LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1708, 21 March 1882, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.! Wellington, March 20. It is understood that Parliament will probably meet about the 18th May for the despatch of business. Du.vedlv, March 20. Wm, Doughty, master of the schooner Orpheus, timber laden, from the Thames, was washed overboard off Banks' Peninsula on the morning on the 13th and drowned. He leaves a wife and four children at Newton, Auckland.

THREE LIVES LOST BY DROWNING. Invercargill, March 20. News was received yesterday of an accident ou the New River, a few miles from town, resulting in the loss of three lives. A party consisting of two young men, Henry Ackers, his sister aged 14, his brother aged 7, and a man named Tom Smith, went out in a sailing boat. They intended to go to a ferry two or three miles distant, but had not gone far before the boat was caught by a gost of wind and turned over, going down in 20ft. of water. As soon as the boat rose, H. Ackers, who is a good swimmer, made for his sister and carrl d her to the boat, telling her to cling to the maaf. He then did the same with his brother. Smith had hold of the boat, and the weight of the four caused the boat to go under. At this point the accident was observed from the shore, and a boat put out, propelled by a boy named Collin Brown, aged 11. Ackers took his brother and sister under each arm, aad endeavored to keep afloat by treading but the wind rising made the water rough, and he ovei° balanced and sank, the children goinc* down under him. They slipped thenhold, and although Ackers dived after them, he ciuld not reach them. On regaining the surface he observed Smith twenty yards away and told him to float on his back. Smith replied, " I can't." By this time young Brown's boat had reached-Ackers, who told him never to mind him, but to go and save

Smith. He managed to get the bow of the boat up to Smith, when the latter sank and never rode again. Ackers was then persuaded with difficulty to enter the boat. The bodies of the girl and that of Smith were subsequently recovered. REEFTON RACES. Reeb*ton, March 20. The dull appearance of the morning justified apprehensions of another wet day for the races, but by the time noon arrived the weather cleared up and crowds of people assembled on the course early to be in time for the Hvlrdle Handicap, which was to open the proceedings. Preliminaries were quickly arranged, and the race was run before one o'clock, Hercules coming in first. The District Handicap iollo wed quickly after, and was won by Forester. Bide-a-wee was leading in the straight, but had a nasty fail just within a leDgth of the winning post. The Hack Race followed, and was pulled off by Dolly Varden after a hot race. For the Antumn Handicap, which was the event of the day, six started, and after an exciting race Fishhook appropriated the big money, with Forester 2, Bide-a-wee 3. Rawdon, Dan O'Connor, and Orient well in the rear. Betting was very brisk generally, and over £2OO was run up on the totalisator. The District Handicap Trotting Bace brought Black Bess, Painter, Polly, Ada, and Dolly to their marks, the last-named proving the winner. The Sficond Hurdle Handicap, after a mishap to the Dart, was easily won by Hercules. The Consolation Race, with Dan O'Connor first, finished the programme and the meeting.