Rangiwahia Notes.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 289, 9 June 1897, Page 2

Rangiwahia Notes.

Ffbom ode own cobhespondent]. Last Friday a most painful and distressing accident happened to Mr W. Theobald, a Rangiwahia settler, while working on the co-operative works above Mangaweka. It appears that Mr Theo> bald, with a number of otber employes, started work as usual, but being rather pusbed ior room he decided to work lower down the cutting or sidling almost if not altogether beyond the sight of bis mates above, who continued to pick out sandstone, which rolled down the hill side. Mr Theobald at this time appeared to be in a safe position, nothing, bowever, occurred to bring suspicion of an accident until about 930 a.m., when the top party bad fully prepared for a shot (blast), one of the gang immediately called for Theobald to come up to a place of safety. They called out repeatedly and receiving no reply the ganger hurried to the place where Theobald was working only to discover that he was not there, but on a little investiga lion being made be was seen lying on the ground at the bottom of a 60 feet cliff, which he had fallen over (or been knocked over). With very great diffK culty ho was brought to the top, where it was discovcrou be bad been struck by a block of falling sandstone on the back ' of his baad and knocked over the aforementioned cliff.* It is feared bis injuries may prove fatal. He js being attended to by Dr Smith, of Hunterrifle, q,i that township. Late new* reached me on Sunday at S p.m. that although be was picked up unconscious he had not then regained consciousness. Through some misunderstanding a number of church goers were deprived of their intellectual feast on Sunday. It appears it bad been arranged the Rev Mr Griffin was to abaudon the Rangiwa* hia afternoon service and substitute a morning one, but unfortunately a number of worshippers had not beeu acquainted of this change and were disappointed. On July 4fcL» services will i)e held in the morning. It seems a pity that this district should be without a daily mail service because no one wil 1 move in the matter. Whatever may bo the cause there is one fact certain and that is that unless there 13 a move made before the opening of Parliament no substantial help cap be expected from the Government, hat if approached now there is every pr,ob% bility of such' efforts' meeting with success. This concession, if granted, would also mean that Mr S. Daw would con* tiuue to run his coaches daily Kuraaer and winter, but unless it is granted no reasonable settler could ever think that Mr Daw would be able to run an empty (or nearly so) daily coach. There is another matter which should receive the attention of every settler, that is tebphoue communication, which is badly needed, as at present there is great difficulty in dispatching or receiving urgent or important news and as the population here is steadily increasing, there is more need for quick dispatcbe of messages. The only way to properly discuss these very important matters is to hold a public meeting, which I feel sure would be well attended. > ,