LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1666, 31 January 1882, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[NMiW ZEALAND I’HISSS association.! Chhistcititrch, January 30. Two publicans warn fined to-dav for spiling liquor on Bun.lays, and had their convictions endorsed on their licenses. The nor-westers have at last ceased, but during the last three or four days they have done incalculable damage to the standing crops, TERRIBLE FIRE. SEVEN LIVES LOST. Christchurch, January 30. Yesterday rooniong a most painful catastrophe happened at West Eyreton, by which a farmer named Henry Simpson, who had resided there for some time, and is respected as a moat hard-

working industrious man, was deprived of his whole family. The harvest being in full swing, Simpson, who had reaped his own crops, was desirous of assisting his neighbors, for which purpose he rose early and had his breakfast. His wife got up at the same time to prepare the meal, and having seen him off, it would seem that she returned to rest again. At any rate nothing further was known as to what happened till Mr J. Sellers, foreman platelayer, who was on the lino between West Eyreton and Swannanow, saw a house burning, and passing Simpson, told him that it must be his house. Simpson immediately returned, reaching the house about 8.30 a.m., when he found it a complete wreck. Gradually the truth dawned on the poor fellow, and a search was immediately instituted by the police and neighbors, and having found the position of the bedstead they were not long in discovering the charred remains of the wife and one of the children, and by dint of perseverance found the bodies of all the children. The body of the woman, who was 28 years of age, was first found. The limbs were completely burnt from the trunk, the head being totally destroyed, and all the children were in a similar state, a'l their bodies being reduced to a very small size, with the exception of a baby about three months old, whose body was not so much charred, but the head, hands, and feet were shrivelled up with the heat. The house consisted of five rooms two upstairs and two downstairs, besides a lean-to, and the children were asleep in one of the upstairs rooms when Simpson left home in the morning. The following are the names of the deceased, viz. Margaret, aged 28, the mother; Matilda, 7 years ; Thomas John, 54; Sarah, 4|-; Anne Jane, 2£; William, I*-; Henry, 3 months. It is supposed that when Simpsou left home in company with some two or three other men who were working with him, that Mrs Simpson retired to her bedroom, and that meanwhile the fire in the kitchen blew out of it and set fire to the kitchen and staircase. It is evident from the position of the bodies that the children were all burnt in their beds, and that Mrs Simpson must have been burned in her own room while she was shielding her baby from the devouring flames, as the baby’s body and her own breasts are the least chai red by the fire and the baby was found lying near to her.