THE TIMARU DISASTER

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2529, 17 May 1882, Page 3

THE TIMARU DISASTER

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM ] TIMARU, May 16 The funeral of Captain Mills to-duy was the largest ever witnessed in Timaru, the town being closed after two o’clock. The funeral procession extended nearly a quarter of a mile, and in it were Masons (including many members of the fraternity from Dunedin, Christchurch, Port Chalmers, and elsewhere), the Rocket Brigade, 0 battery of Artillery, Oddfellows, and about 400 private citizens, including members of the principal public bodies. The Church of England burial service wss read by Archdeacon Harper, and the Masonic service by the Rev. Mr Beck. The streets were lined with people to witness the procession, and more deep-felt sympathy with any poison could not have been expressed.

Letters and telegrams of sympathy continue to pour in, and offers of pecuniary aid have been made from all the principal towns of the colony. Subscription lists have been opened, and two are lying at the “ Timaru Herald” and “South Canterbury Times” offices. At tho Harbor Board meeting to-day Cap Bascand was appointed harbor master. It was decided to hold an inquiry before certain members of the Board and several leading citizens, into the whole circumstances of the late casualty. It was also resolved that the various municipalities of the colony be requested to open subscription lists in aid of the families of the deceased. Tho Board further decided to bear all the cost of the damage sustained, and the expenses incurred on the occasion of tho wrecks, and also the cost of the funerals. Three bodies have been recovered, and a fourth is floating in tho surf. Two have been recognised as those of McLean and Neilson ; the third is so disfigured as to be unidentifiable. An inquest will probably bo held to-morrow. Preparations are being made to save the City of Perth, which is still elaust uninjured anti afloat at times. Her head is to sea. It has been ascertained that she was insured by the Glasgow Underwriters’ Association. It is a strange coincidence that the City of Cashmere, tho City of Perth and the Benvenue were built under the same roof at Glasgow shortly after one

another, and hare come to grief within a short distance one from another. The official inquiry into the wrecks of the City of Perth and Benrenno will not be held till next week. Their captains and Captain 'Howlands, of the Hake of Sutherland, will then proceed Home by the first Orient boat. It is now thought that the list of the drowned is complete, and no more are to be added to it, THB IyRUBAFCBS, Mr Brindley, local agent to the Victorian Company, state* the insurances were as follow*. The offices interested in the City of Perth are Union, £2OOO ; Standard, £SOO ; South British, £ISOO : Australian Alliance, £2000; Swiss Lloyds, £SOO j National, £SOO ; British and foreign offices, £2000; total, £9OOI. On the Benvenue :—Standard, £832 10s on the cargo of coal, of which £332 XOi was reinsured in the IJuion, _ . . IUNEDIN, May IS. To-night, at the Oity Council, a resolution of condolence was carried re the Timaru disaster, and £23 was subscribed to the fund, by the councillors.