INTERPROVINCIAL

Dunstan Times, Issue 1049, 26 May 1882, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL

A'deat and dumb child, seven years old, was knocked down by a truck which two men were pushing over a siding at Sydenham, and one leg was cut off, while another was broken. The men said they did not see the child, who, of course, is not likely to recover.

Every effort was made by Inspector Pender at Timavn, on Friday last, to ascertain the exact number of persons who were drowned. At his requset the majority of those who formed the crews of the boats assembled at the Koyal Hotel, and were closely questioned, but owing to the absence of several men it was impossible to obtain a correct list. The resultof the investigations so far leads to the'belief that 10 instead of eight men met with their deaths. A public meeting was held at theJTheati c Koyal, at Timaru, for the purpose of organising a fund for the relief of the sufferers by the late wrecks, and for the consideration of the Harbour Board matters. The Theatre was crowded to excess, and many people were unable to obtain admission. A conimittee was appointed to canvass the t( wn and neighbourhood for subscriptions to tin funds. A hoard of trustees for the funds was also appointed, with power to distribute them to any sufferer by the late calamity. It was decided that a suitable memorial to those who perished should lie erected, and also that the names of those volunteers who risked their lives should be recnm mended to the notice of the Humane Society. It was resolved that the persent position of the adminstration of the Har hour Board was highly unsatisfactory, and that it was desirable that the constitution of the Board should be altered to provide for the people having direct representation on it ; that the Government be respectfully requested to introduce a Bill to this eff ct and that copies of the foregoing resolution be forwarded to the members for South Canterbury. The principle speakers were Archdeacon Harper, Messrs Wakefield, C. Bourne, Hamersley, Rutherford, Bowker, Brownel.', Jonas, Meikle, Granger, Stansell, and Captain Cam.

After the meeting the effigies of those members of the Harbour Board who had rendereed themselves obnoxious were burnt in effigy. An attempt was made to tow off the City of Perth, but o .ring to a sandbank having formed in front of her it proved unsuccessful’ Another attempt will be made so soon as she is lightened. She is afloat at high tide.

Samuel Bellard, a digger, committed suicide in Onamatutu Valley, Blenheim. He was found stretched on bis bed with a gnu between hi* legs, and a stick with which be had pulled the trigger. The shot entered bis chest, and death must have been ins’antnneous. The following letter was found in his pi elect book:—“ Aly dear ifriends, I am heartsick of tins world ; I cannot live in it any longer. My energy is exhausted— I cannot work ; I cannot rest. There is one that knows why. Good by all ! —S. B.” A slip of paper containing the following address was found betweenj his legs: “ W Gard, Donald McLean street, Newton. Wellington.” At the inquest a verdict of felo de se was returned.