DEATH OF A VOLUNTEER.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 679, 6 May 1869, Page 3

DEATH OF A VOLUNTEER.

It is our painful duty to record the death, by fever, at the early age of 26 years, of Corporal James Clay, of the Napier Rifle Volunteers, which took place early yesterday morning, after an illness of a week's duration. The deceased, who formerly belonged to the 14th Regt., was much esteemed by all who knew him, and his sudden death cast a gloom over the community. The funeial took place yesterday afternoon, with military honors, —the Volunteers, the Militia, the Yeomanry Cavalry, and a large number of other inhabitants being in attendance. The Volunteer Band preceded the procession, playing the " Dead March in Saul." The firing party was composed of some of deceased's comrades, Lieut. Irvine in command; and the impressive burial service of the Church of England was conducted by the Rev. J. Townsend.

Adelaide Punch —After a brief existence of rather less than four months the Adelaide Punch has ceased to be. A notice from the publisher intimates that the income from the paper has not proved at all sufficient to pay expenses, and Punch writes his own mournful epitaph as follows: —In Memoriam. Adelaide Punch, born sth December, 1868; died April Fool's Day, 1869. Strangers, be kind to TobyLife's a jest—all things show it; I thought so once, and now I know it. Fatal Accident in the Frith of Thames. —The Thames Advertiser, 29th April, says that " a fatal accident occurred during the passage of the p.s. Lalla Rookh from Auckland to Shortland yesterday morning. It appears that about 5 o'clock yesterday morning, when the steamer was in the mouth of the gulf, about ten miles at this side of the Sandspit, a man was observed in the water by Mr Gibbons, of the British Hotel, Shortland, who at once gave warning; the ship was put about, and the boat lowered as quickly as possible, but just as the boat reached the water the man was observed to sink, and was not seen afterwards. Every effort was made to save him under the circumstances. In the course of conversation with Mr Reeves and Mr Gibbons, the man who appeared to be about 38 or 40 years of age, stated that he was a Highlander. He was at the time partly inebriated and somewhat inclined to be quarrelsome, but by what means he fell overboard no one knows. He was first observed by a boy passenger, who says he gave the alarm, but no one heard him, and just then he was observed by Mr Gibbons. There was a rough sea on at the time, and the moon was clouded. Mr Gibbons and some of the other passengers did all they could to save the poor man's life by aiding the captain and crew to lower the boat, and using every other means in their power. The deceased was not known to anyone on board, and has left nothing by which he could be identified."