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INVESTIGATION AS TO THE DEATH OF W. C. YOUNG, ESQ.

At an inquiry held on Monday last, at the Wakefield Arms, before Henry Augustus Thompson, Esq., P.M, and Arthur Wakefield, Esq., J.P., into the circumstances connected with the death of the late William Curling Young, Esq., the following evidence was taken: — Joseph Ford Wilson, surgeon, examined :— «-I have seen a body this evening, which I recognise as that of William Curling Young, Esq., whom I saw alive on Thursday morning last the 1 lth of August. His body presents the appearance of his having died from drowning. He seems to have sunk almost immediately in deep water; the body being entirely free from abrasion, and affording no indication of his having either struggled long or drifted any distance. I should judge that the body had lain in the water about twelve hours. ** Thomas Bradford Titchener, examined: — Yesterday evening, at about four o'clock, I accompanied the deceased across the Waimea river. On coming to the Wairoa we attempted to ford it. I was in advance of the deceased, and when in the middle of the river was carried off my legs by the force of the stream. I cried out to the deceased that I was carried away. I was almost under water from the weight of my clothing. I looked back and saw the deceased make two or three steps towards me. I believe he got into the same current as that by which I was carried away, and I saw him token off his feet and carried down. I threw myself forward and struggled to the bank, which might have been twelve yards from the middle of the stream. I reached the bank from which we had started, and fell down exhausted, partly in the water and partly out. I looked round before I had regained power to get on the bank, and saw the deceased in the middle of the current, lying on bis back, drift past me. I called out to him, telling him for God's sake to strike in for where I was. He made a faint movement with his hands in the air j his eyes were closed and his lips compressed; he appeared to be quite lost. I then got on my feet and rushed into the water to endeavour to reach him, but could not effect it, from the depth and swiftness of the stream. I had great difficulty in regaining the shore. I then observed a shallow about twenty yards below. I ran for it, and stood in the middle of the stream, in the hope that he would drift down to me. When there I saw the skirt of his coat just above the surface of the water; it disappeared almost immediately. I then waded towards the spot where I saw him sink. I returned to the ford, and again tried to reach the spot in a different direction, but on both occasions found the water beyond my depth, and was obliged to abandon the attempt, being unable to swim. Being satisfied that he would not be carried down to the ford where I stood, I ran to Mr. Cotterell's house for assistance. Ten minutes might have elapsed between the moment in which he was carried away and the time at which I left the place. I returned with about fourteen men, in about twenty minutes from the time I left, and pointed out the spot where I had lost sight of him ; the spot itself was found to be very deep, and the body could not be found; we searched till dark. I have to-day seen the body, which I recognise to be that of William Curling Young. William Sinclair, examined : — I was one of the party who searched for the deceased hist night; we could not find him. I returned to the spot this morning with eight others. We dragged for him for about an hour. lat length pulled him up and, with the assistance of others, took him out. A man of the name of John Bathe dived, both last night and this morning, but could not see him. The spot where I found him was about twelve feet deep. The body I found was that of Mr. Curling Young, whom I had previously known.

To the Editor of the Nklson Examiner. Sir — Allow me, through, the medium of your paper, to lay before the public some particulars relative to the late most dreadful event— the death of Mr. W. C. Young, as they would necessarily not appear in any other way; at least, they did not appear at the inquiry. ' I started with him on horseback, on Thursday morning last, with the intention of going over the surveyed land in the Waimea district. We reached Mr. Musgrave's station about the middle of the day, walked over the greater part of his survey, and slept there that night. In the morning we proceeded to Messrs. Barnicoat and Thompson's station, and, leaving our horses there, we walked along their hill sections to the Wairoa, and did not return until nearly two hours after dark. The next morning (Saturday) we started for Mr. Cotterell's station, which (after making a circuitous route, in order to see some sections of Messrs. Barnicoat and Thompson's, near the River Waimea) we reached about twelve o'clock, and, leaving our horses there, took a most fatiguing walk through part of his survey, and returned to his house about six cVlock in the evening. The next morning (Sunday) we started on foot, about nine o'clock in the morning, to go through another part of his district. After wading the River Waimea several times, nearly up to our middles, going through swamps, and over some almost perpendicular mountains, we returned to Mr. Cotterell's, about half-past three, p.m. We then took some refreshment. Mr. Young was very anxious to cross the Waimea and Wairoa, to see some sections of Messrs. Barnicoat and Thompson's, which hs had not been on, but which I knew perfectly well. I endeavoured to dissuade him from attempting it, as we were excessively fatigued ; but he replfed that he could not conscientiously make his selections if he did not see all the sections. Finding that he

had made up his mind to do it/ I consented t< accompany him. We crossed the Waimea perfectly well; but, in endeavouring to ford the Wairoa, the melancholy event occurred, a report of the particulars of which will doubtless appear in your paper. And here I must beai mostgrateful testimony to the efforts made b) Mr. Cotterell and the whole of his men to rescue my unfortunate friend from his watery grave, but that night without effect. It is not my intention, in this letter, to eel forth the many excellent qualities which he possessed, and which rendered him dear to all who knew him. The tears which stood in everj eye on hearing of his death, the numerous attendance of the colonists when the last rites were performed over him, bear far stronger testimony than any words of mine can express oi the estimation in which he was held. As more immediately regards myself, I can only say that, thrown almost by chance into his society, we had gradually become attached to each other, and became most intimate friendß, ay, almost at brothers, and I do sincerely feel his loss at such. As regards the colony, it has lost a man of extraordinary ability, whose very soul was wrapped up in its welfare. Before I conclude, I beg to return you, and all my friends in the colony, my most heartfelt thanks for the kind and considerate way in which I have been treated since the melancholy occurrence. T. B. Titchbnkr. Trafalgar-square, Nelson, August 17.

To thb Editor or the Nelson Examinkk. Sir — Your report of my speech, at a meeting held at Mr. Sclanders', is so incorrect as well as unfair towards myself, that I feel called upon in some way to contradict it. Perhaps the bed and shortest will be to Btate the argument 1 used. It was this — That it was unfair to the early setttewt (one great inducement to many tc come out early and put themselves to considerable expense, having been the better opportunity they would* have of viewing the land) U call upon them to proceed under the presen arrangement; indeed, I considered it woulc amount to a breach of faith on the part of th< Company if they did. Not a word about i breach of. faith in other matters, or a recommendation of a general refusal to select tiniest the whole of the suburban lands were surveyed This f and the report that I pointed out man] situations which were being surveyed as unserviceable for agricultural purposes, or any profit* able application, is a flight of your reporter* fancy. It may probably have struck him at being the case; certainly, I did not give the thought utterance. Apologizing for giving you this trouble, I remain, sir, Your obedient servant, Aldons Arnold. Nelson, Aug. 14.

Emigration to Auckland. — It is satisfactory to be able to state, that Government ii beginning, though upon a small scale, to evinc< something like a becoming sympathy for the destitute operatives in the North; two vessels, the Duchess of Argyle and the Jane Clifford having been jast chartered at Greenock for th< conveyance of free passengers to " Aucland, tin capital of New Zealand," tor so, we understand is the colonial distinction at length assigned bj the Home Government, and therefore may b< regarded as setting at rest any difference o: opinion that may have been entertained at th< instance of private interests. The above vesseL are to sail from the Clyde in the month of June We quite agree with the opinion of a correspondent and zealous friend of Emigration, a this recognition by Government of a great principle—contended for by the press and at public meetings for the last six month* — that it is s thousand times better to assist the unemployed of our countrymen to emigrate, as a means a bettering their condition, than to keep them at home in idleness, and feed- them- by sou] kitchens. — Emigration Gazette. The reinforcements which have already sailed or are about to sail, for China amount U seventeen ships of war. — Atlas. Feb. 19. It is positively stated that General Cass, the American Minuter at Paris, has addressed tc M. Guizot a remonstrance against the JSuropeax treaty intended to sanction the right of search, and that in this document he declares thai America will consider as equally guilty with the chief offending power (Great Britain) any government that signs that treaty, which he considers at an overt attack upon the independence of the United States. It is said that M. Guizofa hesitation, we may almost say refusal, to sign the treaty, has been induced by this decided remonstrance. Much dissatisfaction has been created |n Canada, by the imposition of two dollars additional colonial duty on the importation of pork from that colony into Jamaica. The Montreal Qazett* remarks that a duty of only one dollar is imposed on Irish pork; and no additional duty is laid on the article either from the United States pr the North of Europe ! It is asked, whether the Home Government wiQ in this case relinquish its exclusive right to impose differential duties in the Colonies for the regulation of commerce. The point merits the immediate attention of Lord Stanley. - A merchant advertised lately for a clerk accustomed to confinement. He received an answer from a person who had been seven yean in gaol! A female pauper in the Union Workhouse at Olney was the other day proved to be the owner' of a fortune of 5001 As toon as she received the money the sent for a blind man who had been kind to her in the workhouse, and married him immediately. The SuUht Bternng Pott observe*, that Sir. Robert Peel brought forward bis meanfeft on one of the greatest fasts in the year,— «a appropriate day for sustaining the starvation tar* !

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18420820.2.11

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 24, 20 August 1842, Page 95

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,021

INVESTIGATION AS TO THE DEATH OF W. C. YOUNG, ESQ. Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 24, 20 August 1842, Page 95

INVESTIGATION AS TO THE DEATH OF W. C. YOUNG, ESQ. Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 24, 20 August 1842, Page 95

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