PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 2950, 14 April 1886, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[united prrss association.!

"Nelson, April 12. The remains of a man were found yesterday about two miles above the reservoir. They are supposed to he those of Joseph Lucas, who left the copper mine for Nelson on the 6th January, and has not heen seen since. The police have proceeded to the spot to bring in the remains. Dunedin, Aptil 13. On Monday Mrs Beatrice Scott Borland, wife of John Borland, steward of the Rotorua, took an overdose of chloroform, and died from the effects. She waa 28 years of age. Wellington, April 12.

Au officer of the Audit Department left for Inangahua today, with the view of takir.g action towards the prosecution of former members of the County Council for illegal expenditure of county funds.

A man named Thomas Allan, employed ou Riddiford's station, has been found drowned at Te Awahio.

A man named Anthony Francis died suddenly to-day. He was seen sitting on a stack of timber, when suddenly he expired.

Auckland, April 12. John Henneay, cellarman of Hancock's brewery, dropped dead to-day. April 13. A. buahman named Mo:\t, at Slatters Bush, cut his throat. He is not expected to live.

WRECK OF UNION STEAME r TAIAROA. 33 DROWED ; 14 SAVED. FURTHER PARTICULARS. Blenheim, April 12. The inquiry has terminated. The impositions will be foi warded to Wellington. Captain Thomson states that the Taiaioa passed the Hauroto going north somewhere near Cape Campbell. She was steering a course inside his course. Mr M'Qoarter states that there were eleven men in his boat, which left the wreck, but nine died of exhaustion before the boat righted itse'f the last time. The night was bitterly cold, dark, windy, and wet, and nothing but the physical strength of M'Quarter, who is a very powerful man, saved his life. A boisterous S.W. gale set. in about four yesterday afternoon in the Straits, replacing the not th-wester. It is supposed that Captain Thomson hugged the shore to avoid the wind. M'Quarter's statement is somewhat incoherent at present, owing to his awful night's adventure.

Both Hutton and M'Quarter say that the captain, after the steamer struck, remarked that he thought he was five miles off Kaikoura, and steering into Half Moon Bay. As a matter o[ fact the steamer was heading direct for the Clarence Bridge, iu (he mouth of the river. When she struck M'Quarter considers there were fifty souls on board all told.

The body of one passenger washed ashore had a leg bitten off by a shark. The wreckage come ashore at present consists of several life-buoys, and the remains of the capsized boat. The body of a man was found in M'Quarter's boat much kuocked about. None of the eight bodies have actually yet been identified.

THE DROWNED AND THE SAVED.

The following is a list of the drowned and the saved so far as it has been possible to ascertain : PASSENGERS DROWNED. Mrs G. G. FitzGeraid. Mrs Jessie Game (or Eraser). Win. Ward (Torpedo Instructor). R. H. Vallance. Erskine Galbraith. George Havvken. George Smith. James Feiguaon. Murray John Harboard. E. Bray Wigh-y (from Wellington). Alexander Martin (from Wellington). PASSENGERS SAVED. Sergeant Grant (A.C.) Constable M'Quarter (Permanent Torpedo Corps). R. Henderson. J. Harper. Gilbert Hutton. Thomas Olliver. CREW DROWNED. R. Monkman, chief officer. J. Powell, second officer. T. Stratford, second eugineer. R. Spooner, purser. F. Hill, lamp trimmer. Able Seamen.—J. Jones, K. Williamson, E. M'Millan, P. Hansen, J. M'Phee. Firemen.—G. M'Donough, R. Irvine. Trimmers.—J. Hunter, R. Wiliiams. Stewards and Stewardesses. T. Delaney, K. Bathgate, M. A. Brownej G. Golchen, chief cook, W. Ellen, second cook. CREW SAVED. George Thompson, captain. Samuel Dalrymple, chief engineer. J. Fulder, chief steward. Duncau Campbell, second steward. William Tain (or Caine) donkeyman. J. We.st, carpenter. J. M'Kay, A.B. Wai. Quiuti, boy. It is at present quite uncertain whether there were not several others on board. Another body was found south o? Flaxbourne, making nine in all recovered. The following have been identified : Robert Monkman, first officer; James Powell, second officer; Alexander Martin. The women on board were—Mrs Fitzgerald, Mis Jessie Game, Mrs Gibbs, saloou passengers from Wellington. A steerage passenger, name nnknowij, and the stewardess M. A. Browne. So far as can be ascertained tho-e on board numt ered 47, being 20 pas>eugers and 27 of a crew. The number saved was 14, thus leaving 33 drowned. FATAL GUN ACCIDENT. Ashburton, April 5. A fatal gnn accident occurred early on Monday morning. Mr William Bland, a well known mid highlv inspected f.mnor, was f.imxl lying" dfad in a Hlaughter-hoiis'.' on his farm at Springfield, tfypor A..hburton. A man,

named Crawford, who was working on the farm had occasion to go to the slaughter-bonse, where he saw Mr Bland lying on his face on the ground. Thinking he had fallen down in a fit, Crawford attempted to raise him, and was astonished when he found that life was extinct. A.gun was hanging hy the trigger guard on a hook overhead. It is supposed that as deceas'-d was attempting either to remove the gun from, or to hang it on the hook, the weapon was accidentally discharged, and the contents lodged in his breast just above the heart. At nine o'clock on Sunday evening Mr Bland retired to rest and was then in his usual good health and spirits. Mrs Bland was away on a visit at the time of the sad occurrence. The body was brought into Ashburton this afternoon, and an inquest will be held to-morrow. April 7.

The late Mr "William Bland, whoso melancholy death was recorded in the Press ori Tuesday, was a man of a most, cheery and sanguine temperament, of a cheerful and kindly disposition, and widely and popularly known through out the district. Some years ago his father met with a fatal accident, and his brother, William Bland, met his death from a gun-shot wound while rabbit shooting in the river bed.