INTER-PROVINCIAL ITEMS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 733, 8 November 1869, Page 3

INTER-PROVINCIAL ITEMS.

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES

We (Thames Advertiser) have to record, with the utmost regret, the first accident that baa happened i;i connexion with the Golden Crown Company's works, ana which has surpassed, in the horror cf its details, not only any occurrence on the gold-field, but even in the province. From the particulars which wo append, it will be seen that the unfortunate sufferer by this most sudden and awful casualty was mangled in the most horrible manner so much that tho body completely defied identification. From tho particulars as gathered by our reporter, who visited the scene of the cccidcnt a short time after its occurrence, it would appear that there are two engineers n charge of the crushing and pumping works of the Goiilen Crown Company. These men work in twelve hour shifts, and one of them, the head engineer, by name John Baxter, went to work at six o'clock last night as usual, and until half-past eight the operations of the machinery went on as usual, no one hav ing occasion to visit the budding with the exception of Baxter who was in charge. At the hour mentioned above, a stranger went to visit Mr Cootes, who was in the employ of the company, and occupies an office in the neighborhood of tho pumping machinery, when he was horrified at perceiving the mangled body of a human being lying on the floor of the machine room, close to the eccentric rods and the governing balls. The alarm was at once given, the machinery was immediately stoped, and a crowd soon congregated around the spot. The appearance presented by the body was of a frightful charaoter, not a feature of the countenance was recognisable, and the mangled and distorted limbs scarce presented the semblance of a human appearance. The viscera were protruding j and, indeed, it may almost be, said that the whole remains were a mass of mangled flesh. A strict examination of the immediate locality was at once entered into, and it was found that the governing balls were sprinkled with brain and blood, as were also the eccentric rods, and a largo pool of blood was coagulated on the floor underneath the balls, and the oil can used for oiling the machinery was found at the bottom of the pit in which the fly wheel revolves. From an examination of the remnants of torn clothes and the disfigured remains, it was found that the unfortunate man Baxter had met with a fearful death. Of course all ideas as to how tho accident occurred must be merely and purely corjec tared ; however, it is tupposed that Baxter, efter oiling the bearings of the fly wheel, incautiously raised his head, forgetful of tho close proximity of tho quicklyrevolving governing balls, and was struck by them and dashed, stunned, amount the eccentric rods, which, having torn the then senseless form, threw it in an undistinguishable heap on the part of the floor on which it was subsequently found. An inquest will be held on the remains this day, at which all possible particulars of this, the saddest accident as yot known in our community, will, we doubt not, be elucidated. There arc certain matters conuectedl With tho domestio life of poor Baxter whieh throw an additional gloom over the unhappy event. it seems that the unfortunate man had just completed a comfort. .able cottage on the Shellback Creek, below Clarkson's baitery, for the residence of his wife aad six young children, who are now loft mourners over his untimely fate. We believe that the unhappy wife aud family are left by this unfortunate occurrence entirely unprovided. We hope, therefore, that tho public of the Thames will not be coming forward and offering assistance for the bereaved wife and children. 'lt subscription lists wcro left in the banks aud principal offices in the township, we iave little doubt but that many would

[willingly come forward and give that assistance which it is the duly of every one !to render to the afflicted under such melancholy circumstances.—An inquest was held on the body on Oct. 30, when a verdict of " Accidental death " was returned The jury added a rider, recommending that the eight hour shift should be introduced in place of twelve hours, a 3 they considered that a man was likely to get worn and drowsy by the long shift, and therefore more liable to meet with accident on start ing up suddenly. They also recommended that all machinery of this description should be fenced in to prevent accidents as far as possible. The Thames Times, Ist Nov., says : —An accident of a very serious character occurred on Saturday night, Oct. 30, near tho Kuranui company's machine. It appears that a man named John Boss was walking along the road towards Tararu at about 10 o'clock on the night in question, and while passing the Kuranui company's machine he accidentally stumbled, and was precipitated into a large reservoir that has been excavated for the purpose of supplying water to the machine. It was low water at tho time, and there was no water in the reservoir. The poor fellow, in falling, struck his head against a pieoe of rock, causing a severe wound. lie was taken to Shotover Hotel (Nixon's), and Dr Hunter was quickly in attendance and gave what relief he could afford. It is feared that < concussion of the brain has ensued, and ultimate recovery i*, we believe, doubtful It is difficult to understand how tho accident could have occurred, as tho reservoir , is fenced in on all sides.

The Thimes Times, Ist Nov., says thai "an accident occurred on the .Rejected Company's claim, on tho 28th October, which was fortunately unattended with serious consequences. Tho miners were engaged in putting in a shot, and it appears that a piece of iron had splintered off and boon left behind in the bore, and when they were ramming down the tamper the fuse ignited. Three men were in the drive at tho time, and, by a slight warning given by the fuse, two of them were enabled to throw themselves down before the shot exploded. The third was not so fortunate, and had only time to assume a recumbent position when the shot went off. Fortunately the greater part of the debris was scattered over Iho heads of the men, and although one of them received a severe scalp wound and bruises, the others fortunately escaped scatheless. As regards the wounded man, we are glad to be in a position to state that the injuries ho received are not of a dangerous character, or, in other words, he was more frightened than hart."

There was some excitement in Shortland on Saturday morning (says the Times, Ist November) concerning a rumor tnat a wo man had been murdered —stabbed in the breast with a knife, and that the blood was to be seen at Litchfield's corner, where the deed was said to have been committed. Chore were a great number of different stories flying about, but the one the police informed us of is that the woman, who had been sleeping near the place, woke up, and had either been dreaming or in delirium tremens at the time—fancied that somebody had attempted to murder her. There was nothing to substantiate the facts stated by her, although there was blood at the spot pointed out, which, it is said, a butcher's boy had spilled there purposely.

LITEST FROM OHJTNEMUBI. The Ohinemuri correspondent of the Thames Times writes as follows under date 2nd November :

Mr Puckey, Civil Commissioner,, arrived here on Saturday night last, and before giving an account of the proceedings that have resulted from his visit, I may say that he seems to mo to havo succeeded in effecting a good deal in a short space of time. I bilievo I am correct in saying that hi 3 visit was paid in consequence of a wish of the hon. Donald M'Lean, Native and Defence Minister, that in order to let the angry feelings of certain natives at tho coming of a large number of diggers subside, and so to open the road towards proper negotiations on the part of the Government authorities, a quiet effort might be made to show the diggers, that by their removal they would lend assistance towards the work of those who were endeavoring to have the country opened up The effort has been completely successful, and without parade or fuss the diggers have been sensibly treated as fair honest men and have at onco consented to do all that'was r. quired of them. Te Hira hayin» heard of Mr Puckey'a arrival and the object of his visit, and his sister, Mere Kuru, on Friday morning to ask Mr Puckey to go and sco him after having seen the diggers, in order that ho (Mr Puckey) might tell him the result. On Sunday afternoon accordingly Mr Puckey met several of tho prospectors at Mr Andrews' Parawai store, and upon explaining jto them the object of his mission, the men I at once exprosssed their willingness to leave provided those further down the river, at Cashel's, would also quit. On Sunday evening Mr Puckey visited Te Hira, and went along with him to several of the Piako Chiefs, who invited him to attend a meeting to bo held on the following rnorning Te Hira also expressed tho pleasure Mr Puckey's visit gave him. On the following morning accordingly a meeting was hold in the Whare-to-pai-o-Hau-raki (or the house of the Hauraki), at which Te Hira and all tho leading and influential chiefs of the district as well as thoje from the Piako were present. The talking was almost altogether confined to the objections the various speakers had to the prcsonce of diggers, more especially in the ease of those who were in the hilla.

and whprn thoy earnestly requested Mr i Puckey would take speedy steps to have ■ removed. Mr Puckey appointed at once i five Quoenifco and five ifauhau natives to search the hills for all parties that might be found prospecting there, at which action the native's expressed themselves highly pleased. The natives told Mr Puckey also, that they had done him a very great honor in permitting him to see Te "Hira, and in Te Hira's attending the meeting. Dnring a discussion which ensued at the korero as to the right which the Queen natives had to deal with their lands, as they might think best, Mr Puckey was told by one of the leaders of the Hauhau party, that until matters should come to such a state, that the Pakoha and Maori could live together like brothers, they wonld allow no division of interests to take place between themselves and the Queen natives. On Monday afternoon, on his way down to Shorthand, Mr Puckey met the diggers who were at Belmont (Oashel's), and addressed them similarly to the manner in which he had those at Pairoa, with a simi« lar result. Thus it will be seen that everything has been .quietly made ready for the coming of Mr M'Lean, by removing all causes of excitement amongst the natives. On the simple fact of Te Hira's having permitted a Civil Commissioner to visit him, I need not dilate, it requires no comment. Very Litest News. —Ohinemubi to 3b Opened Immediately. The following, which is from the Thames Times, of the 4th November, is the very latest intelligence from Ohinerouri:

We learn from authentic sources that all the objections by tho natives as to the opening up of this district have now ceased, and the only point undecided is as to whether the land will be ceded to the diggers or to the Government.

GENERAL NEWS. We (New Zealand Herald, Not. 2) regret to notice in our obituary list tho name of Dr Fisher, late the Resident Surgeon oi the Lunatic Asylum, Great North Boad. Dr. Fisher had been connected with this province for several years —first as Assist ant Surgeon at the Provincial Hospital, and, subsequently, the Resident Medical Superintendent of the Asylum. His unassuming manners, his devotedness to his profession, and tho duties of his office, kept him from public view; and he was, therefore, but little known, except to his medical brethren and tho subjects of his care. He was a man of the kindest disposition, and had the most active sympathy with the afflicted. He will be regretted not less by those who were for a timo committed to his charge than by his personal friends and acquaintances. Dr. Fisher caught cold about 18 months ago, which has thus terminated in his death by consumption. He was married to the eldest daughter of Dr. Fhiison, Provincial Surgeon. By this sad event, one of the most estimable families in tho province is put into mourning. Tho Customs receipts at Auckland for the month of October amounted to £22,000. !

The p.e. Royal Alfred brought to Auckland, on the 30th ult., 2000 ozs. of gold from the Bank of New Zealand, Grahamstown. The same steamer brought up 460 ozs. on the 3rd 'Nor., from the Shotover G-old-mining Co., and which was lodged in the Bank of New Zealand. The G-olden Crown claim, Thames, has just declared a dividend amounting to £3O per share. Heavy gold has again been struck in the Shotover claim, Thames. Among the articles of import by the s.s. Hero, we (Southern Cross, Nov. 4) notice a considerable quantity of hay. Surely our farmers must feel it a reproach that a country such as Ne 1 / Zealand —which, above all others in the world, is eminently qualified for the production of grass crops—should be so backward in its agriculture as to be indebted to Australia for any portion of the supplies, and that too at a period when that country is only recovering from a sevei'e and prolonged drought. A flax-dressing company was being formed at Masterton at our latest dates. The telegraph line between Wellington and Wanganui was expected to be in working order about the 3Uth ult. The Wellington Independent says the price of cattle of all kinds appears to be on the rise. We learn that a dealer from Napier has been purchasing in the Wairarapa 200 head of store cattle at rather high rates, £4 10s being givon for second rate two year old steers. Mr F. D. Bach has sent 120 very fine merino rams to the Timaru show.

It is proposed to hold a Volunteer encampment in Canterbury on the Oth The Canterbury Jockey Club are taking into consideration the advisability of holding the next Christchurch race meeting during the visit of the living Squadron to Lytteiton in January next.

Toi-toi G-eass. —A recent number of the G-ardener's Chronicle" contains the following letter from a gentleman residing at Torquay:—"Allow me to call attention to the New Zealand toi-toi grass, or arunda oonspicua. I believe this will prove a valuable plant for "cultivation in this country for ropes and strong hempen fabric. Tho fibre is nearly as strong as that of the New Zealand flax (phormiumtenaxj, while the plant is much more prolific and seems as if it would grow anywhere in this country, and yield a heavy crop. The blades are stronger than our Pampa grass (rjeneriwn argentumj t of a dark green color rather broader, not quite so erect t and from two to four feet in length."