NELSON CREEK.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 542, 8 July 1869, Page 3

NELSON CREEK.

(from a cobrespondent.) Try-Again Terrace, July 7. A sad accident occurred here on Surday night, or, rather, Monday morning last. A miner named Isaac Jones, a native of Bhyl, North Wales, came here to meet some acquaintances ; as usual, drinks follow drinks, time steals on, and Jones, at or about 2 o'clock in the morning, makes his way homeward with a friend named Jack. Jack wants to lead one way, Jones the other ; the result being that Jones tumbles down a precipice, drawing Jack with him. Jones is picked up insensible, bleeding profusely from the nose and ears, and conveyed to a neighbor's residence. About 8 o'clock on Monday morning, a body of miners, some 150 in number, assembled and conveyed the sick man towards Camp Town, from thence to be conveyed to Greymouth. When within half-a-mile of Mr Campbell's store, Jones was observed to be fast sinking, and was found to be dead upon arrival at the township. When there, the body was conveyed to the Police Camp, and the officer in charge (Mr Sweeney) gave satisfactory instructions to those immediately concerned. It is supposed that the body will be removed to Cobden, where an inquest will be held. The deceased was a shareholder in a claim at or near Dry Gully, which is supposed to be of value ; and as such is the case, there is no doubt but that the Curator will step in. But, let me ask, why has the same functionary nob stepped in and looked after the estates of, at least, two intestate persons, whose effects, though small, now lie in the hands of strangers, after the bodies have been decently interred at the public expense ? If there is such a public servant as Curator of Intestate Estates for the Nelson Province, it is highly necessary that he should move in matters of this sort whether there is a balance in favor of the deceased or not. You will remember that in my last I alluded to the fact that Mr Gorman, policeofficer in charge here, had been transferred to Napoleon. Since his departure, the several places which, through notoriety, and a special license from the Provincial Government, aTe termed p\iblic-l\oiises, are, and havo been, open from dusk until dawn — proprietors inveigling men into these despicable resorts, turning them out when their cash becomes exhausted, and, whether drunk or sober, left to find their own way home. Now, had Mr Gorman, or any other officer, been in charge here on the night when Jones met his death,

the dens I allude to, and which arc the curse of every gold field, would have been closed, as they used to be, at the specified hour, and we would not now have to mourn the loss of a fellow-being. Who it is that has the power, and exercises this battledore -and -shuttlecock system with the police-officers, I know not, but the people here complain most bitterly at being deprived of protection, the results of which are already apparent, without betokening what may be in the future. I cannot close this communication without specially alluding to the alacrity which has at all times pervaded the miners of Nelson Creek when their services or assistance was needed in the cause of humanity, and to no person will 3nch conduct be a soxirce of greater satisfaction than to these noble-hearted fellows, the miners, themselves.