Untitled

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 715, 6 September 1869, Page 3

Liberty of the Pkess.—By telegram received la#t night from I unedin we learn that the prosecution against Mr Henningham of the " Kclio " has been withdrawn, lienningham's recognizances and witnesses have been discharged, and a committee has been formed to raise a testimonial to defendant. —Wellington Independent, 2nd •epteniber. COMMISSIONERS TO ENGLAND. —The Superintendent ot'Wellington is appointed one of the commissioners to represent the case of New Zealand to the English Government. He will, it is beheyed, have the Hon. Dillon Bell as his colleague, and the colony and province will wish him the same success which has invariable attended all his other missions.—Wellington Independent, 2nd September. Painful and Fatal Accident.—A most distressing and fatal accident occurred on the 21st August, at about 9 p.m., by which a poor woman met her death at her residence, Motes worth-street. Ihe followin" are the particulars, as we gathered them after the occurrence About 9 o'clock on Saturday evening, Mrs Cooper, a very aged woman (mother of Mr F. Cooper, greengrocer and fruiter, of Man-ners-street), went to wind up the clock as usual before retiring to rest. As it is said that the deceased had been for many years subject to infrequent attacks of epilepsy, it is conjectured that while in the act of winding the clock her clothes caught alight, and through fright or one of those fiis she fell down before the fire insensible. About that time some neighbors, Mr and Mrs Maney, accident'y saw the glare inside of Mrs Cooper's house; they rushed in, ibinkii g the house was on fire, and there before ihe fire they beh Id the distressing sight of the old woman enveloped in flan es. Mr Maney lost no time in putting out the flames and sending for Dr. Johnston, who rendered all the assistance thut skill and attention could suggest. On examination ihe sufferer was found to be very much burned on the si .e and breast, the severe mature ol which, combined with her great age and the shock to her system, released tier from all pain on Sunday night, when she expired. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at Princess' Hotel, before Dr. Boor and a full jury (Mr Yates, foreman) ; but as the evidence was mainly corroborative of the lacts above states, and contained very little additional evid nee, we merely give a condensation. Dr Johnston testified to the nature and extent of the injuries received by deceased ; also mentioning that deceased told him before death that she hud no recollection of being burned ; that while she was winding up the clock a sudden faintiieas or vertigo came over her, and she recollected nothing more until she found herself under his care. Andrew Maney and a little boy named Toomey were also examined. The jury returned a verdicfc of "Accidental death."—Wellington Independent,