WANGANUI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 672, 12 April 1869, Page 2

WANGANUI.

Our files are to the 6tb inst, We take tin following paragraphs from the papers to hand:—

Fiee.-—The Evening Herald, of the 6th inst., contains the account of a fire which broke out in the stable and outbuildings of the Victoria Hotel, and by which those appurtenances to the hotel were consumed, By the help of the Fire Brigade and the men of the 18th Royal Irish, under Capt Dawson and other office -s, the hotel waj saved and the fire prevented from spreading. The Waitotaeas.—The Chronicle, «1 the 6th instant, says These rebels hare I been found on Wanganui territory. ThejJ are at present being harbored, or hare I sought refuge, in the pa of a friendly chid | near Pipiriki. They are there to the nnm-1 her of 60 fighting men, and are desirous of I returning to their so-called and professed allegiance, and for this end are instigating friendly chiefs to act as go betweens. It now seems clear that it was upon this question that Mr Woon was requested to proceed up the river last week, but with what result it is premature to state. Meanwhile Major Noake and his force have been in the bush four days on their trail, and have not emerged ; very likely they are following a blind trail, but should they now or soon happen to come upon these Waitotaras at Pipiriki we hope the salutation! I will be warm and comprehensive. To make terms with savages that one month profesi sincere allegiance and the next join out inveterate enemy, would be merely secur ing ourselves a legacy of future trouble. A long rope and a short shrift is their own desert. Two Men Dbownbd in the WANGunn Riyee.—Tn our lass we mentioned that two men, Thomas Jones and Robert Wes 1 ton, members of the Constabulary had been drowned in the Wanganui Hirer. We now supply the following particular} of the sad accident from the Wanganui Times: —A very melancholy accident, attended by the loss of life, took place at tM Lower Ferry on Sunday mo. ning last, it appears that a detachment of the Mounted Armed Constabulary, under the command of Sub-Inspector Richardson, was crossing the river en route for Taupo, the crossing under the supervision of Sergeant-MajJt Bennett. After the first pantload, consist* ing of about 16 men and horses, had pushed off a man named Thomas Jone#, who was intoxicated, pushed his horse into the river to follow the punt. At aw* yards distance at low water the the ban suddenly shelves to some ten or twew ' feet; the horse plunged all at once out o its depth and turned towards the shore, getting his fore feet on the bank. 11 reining back, the man nearly brought horse on top of him and fell off, the nor# making for the other side of the riwj t when Jones foolishly attempted to folio him. Several men, seeing his dange r » ; rushed in to save him, foremost of who® was a man named Robert Weston, who ; succeeded in reaching Jones and grapp“ n |> i him, but after several endeavors to reac® i the shore both sank ; two or three of *» other men who went in narrowly escape® . drowning some of them being considers!) J ; under the influence of drink at the ti®* s A man named Cobine, who was very I®' toxicated, plunged in to the assistance 0 » the drowning men; how he managed reach the shore is quite a miracle, a® i punt was about a third of the distance ■'acroM the river, and he was greatly w

c timbfefe(i by heavy boots and part of hi accoutrements at the time. Shortly afte the detachment started from Canibeltown -Cobin'e was thrown violently from his horst B ear Putiki, and wa« taken up for dead , 0 n some signs of returning consciousnes being observed, he Was at once placed oi , stretcher and brought to town, when he w as taken to the Colonial Hospital. Di fiarle, who attended the sufferer, found hi hid received a severe concussion of th brain. Yesterday, having recovered fron ]0 effects of intoxication, Dr Earl aaid be was in a fair way of recovery fron the effects of the fall, and apprehends n< fatal result*. We might mention tha Robert Weston, one of the unfortunate pien who was drowned, was perfec ly sobei s t the time, that he bore an excellen character in the force, and was orderly t Lieut* Colonel Herrick, during the tim that gentleman was attached to the forcet j U these districts. Thus we find two mort Jires have been sacrificed at the shrine o: i,)temperauee, Up to a late hour las v [A\t neither of the bodies had oeen re cohered.

A Swim p b Life.—We tako the fol lowing from the Chronicle of the 6th inst.: —On Thursday last, when the p.p. Sturt vas oil' Patea, but unable to enter, Captain Jairehild, with three of a boat's crew, wen' t ,ff from the steamer with some important let'.eri for s'lore from Colonel Whitmore, triio w&a on board. When in the suif tin boat capsized and the crew were thrown into tne water. I hey all managed to reach the shore with considerab.e difficulty Captain Fairchild never losing presence ol niiud enough to forget his charge of letters, but carefully took them in through the breakers. On returning the boat was ag'.iu swamped, but a second venture wa successful in getting clear of the breakers KAHTUQUAiiii. —A smart short shock ol earthquake was felt m Wanganui a few lijiiuiea Before eight o'cluck ou the morning of the Ist of April.