ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5377, 21 June 1878, Page 3

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

The Tlinaru Herald has the following : Mr. G. Freeman met with an accident whilst riding after the hounds near Mr. Studholoae’s station. In riding his horse over a post and rail fence, the animal came down with great force on his head and neck, and died almost immediately. Mr. Freeman was much hurt, but no serious consequences are anticipated. The horse was a valuable animal, well known in the neighborhood for its good qualities. Another man, named McKay, was also hurt by a fall from his horse, whilst riding at the hunt on the same day. A somewhat exciting incident occurred at Christchurch on May 31. A trooper, who had formed one of the escort for the Governor, was riding (apparently in an intoxicated state) through the square, when he collided with a horse and trap, the shafts of the latter severely wounding his horse. The police attempted to take the trooper in custody, when the latter objected. Some bystanders proceeded to help the constable, when the trooper drew his sword. The sergeant of the Yeomanry interfered, and a disturbance ensued, the two Yeomanry men being ultimated carried off to the lock-up. At the new morgue in Taranaki-place, at two o’clock on Wednesday, May 29, an inquest was held before Dr. Johnson, coroner, and a jury, on the body of Charles Meadows, who was found dead on the previous evening at the bottom of the steps leading up to Flagstaff Dill. Evidence was given as to the finding of the deceased at the place above-mentionedj and the testimony of Dr. Harding, by whom a. post mortem examination was made, went to show that death had resulted from apoplexy. The jury, in accordance with the medical evidence, returned a verdict of “ Death from natural causes. It is stated that the deceased had been a resident of Wellington for nearly thirty-eight years. Ngamere (better known as Komere, a quarrelsome man) and some Aotea natives of the Taranaki tribe, attempted to remove-some Captain Good’s cattle. Good is iii partnership , with Honi Pihama, late contractor for conveying the mails by Cobb’s coach from Hawera to New Plymouth, and owns the old hotel. The cattle were rescued without harm. The natives threatened to return with arms, and shoot them, but have been induced to go without arms. The whole dispute arises through a tribal boundary between the Taranaki and Ngataruanui tribes, but the land being confiscated territory, the Government have only recognised the claim of the latter in the person of Honi Pihama. Anyone who has travelled up the coast knows Honi Pihama. He is looked upon as a European settler would bo; a most straightforward and energetic settler, and as honest as the day. He can in no way be contrasted with Komere, who is a turbulent native. Komere is the native who caused the disturbance some time since at the Opunake flaxmills. Te Whiti, the Parahaka prophet, condemns the action of Komere. Major Brown and Major Tuke left New Plymouth on June 4th for Opunake to meet Mr. Sheehan there. Te Whiti, the Parihaka chief, baa expressed his disapproval of the conduct of Komere in molesting the cattle at Oeo, and has sent a native to try to make his party desist from interfering in any way. The Commissioner of Police has had prepared a return of criminal offences in the Middle Island for the year ending 30th April last, Canterbury heads the list with 3935 offences, Otago and Southland following with 3556. Drunkenness has been the most prevalent offence in each provincial district. An inquest has been held at Otaki on the body of Mr. William Prouse, who was recently drowned there whilst on bis way from Waiuuiomata to Foxfcon. The following verdict was returned by the jury t —“ That the deceased, on the evening of the 30th May, whilst waiting on horseback on the north bank of Otaki for a boat,' by some means got into the river and was drowned.”

An adjourned inquiry into the cause of the recent coach accident near Oamaru, by which Mr, Nicholls and young Mr. Maitland were killed, took place at Oamaru on Thursday, June 6th. Goddard, the driver, appeared in Court with his head bandaged up. He gave evidence that when the coach had descended the Horse llange for about two or three hundred yards, a trace on the off-side pole horse became loose. This caused the horses to take fright, and they broke into a gallop. In crossing a watercourse in the road, the coach jerked violently, and after going a short distance, capsized. The jury returned the following verdict: —“ That Charles Nicholls and James Ernest Maitland met their death accidentally, and that there is no blame attributable to the driver of the coach.

The Bay of Plenty Times records a serious accident which recently took place there, and by which a son of a well-known settler, Captain Tovey, J.P., was seriously hurt. It appears that the youth was out shooting, and in climbing over a fence placed his gun on the ground in front of him, in a line with his arm. From some unaccountable cause the gun went off, causing an exceedingly ugly flesh wound on the right arm, extending from the wrist close up to the elbow, tearing the flesh clean away, and laying the sinews bare. Dr. Armitage and Mr. Hoyte were promptly in attendance, and during the day Dr. Purchase, of Onehunga, was telegraphed for, who arrived per Rowena on Thursday afternoon, and recommended the lad’s removal to Auckland. It is considered certain that young Tovey must lose his arm, and we regret to learn that he is just now considered to be in a dangerous condition. On Thursday morning, the 23rd inst. (says the Patea Mail), it was reported in Carlyle that a butcher named James Hargreaves, well known throughout the district, had been drowned in the Patea River. Sergeant Whelan on being informed made all possible inquiries, and searched the river bank, along which were found footprints in one direction but no signs of the body. It appears that Hargreaves left the Boiling-down Company’s works near the Heads on Wednesday. About 6.30 a.m. on Thursday, Daniel Ball, steward of the s.s. Clyde, which vessel was lying at Hirst’s wharf, heard some one calling out “ Steward, steward,” the voice apparently coming from across the river. Mr. Ball turned out on deck, but it was too dark to see far. While on deck he again heard cries of “ Oh, oh,” and sounds as of some one struggling in the water. He immediately pulled off in the boat in the direction of the cries for help, but failed to discover anything. It is believed Hargreaves, attracted by the _ light of the steamer, had stood on the opposite bank, and while calling for help had rolled over into the river, or that he had attempted to swim across and got drowned. The crew of the steamer, as soon as daylight appeared, searched both sides of the river to the Heads, but could find nothing of the body. As Hargreaves is nowhere to be found it is concluded he has been drowned. Search is still being made for the body. Sergeant Whelan having dragged up and down the river. Another serious accident occurred on the railway works at the Bimutaka tunnel on June Ist. Two men, named respectively Louis Leouoni and Peter Fleury, were employed charging hole which hud been drilled. They had put the powder in, and were pushing it down on the solid with an iron scraper, when the iron must have struck against a piece of flint and ignited the powder, which was blown up the hole into the faces of the two men. Leononi was the most hurt, his head being fearfully burned. The other, Peter Fleury, was not quite so badly injured. The police received information by telegram a few days ago from Melbourne that a warrant for petty larceny had been issued against a man named Frank James Smith, who was supposed to be on board the steamer Albion, which vessel arrived here on Friday afternoon, May 24. Sergeant Smith was on the qni vise, boarded the steamer immediately on her arrival, and arrested his namesake from Victoria.

A surveyor, who has his camp in the Herokiwi Valley, we hear had a narrow escape recently. On returning to his tent after a few clay’s work in the bush, he found the marks of a bullet through the canvas on both sides, leading to the natural conclusion that some one had fired through the tent with or without malicious intent, but in either case rather an awkward thing for any one who happened to be inside. Marks of footprints were found near the tent. Further inquiry may possibly lead to some elucidation of the affair, which at present is rather mysterious. The Napier Telegraph of the 4th inst. says : —“ We regret to hear that the engineer of the steamer Eesult, now bar bound at the Wairoa, has been found drowned. He has been missing since Sunday last. His name was Alexander Suter, and he was greatly respected on the Spit.”

The Wanganui Chronicle of the 4th inst. says ;—An accident, which unhappily resulted fatally, occurred at Upokongaro yesterday afternoon at about 2 o’clock, to a young man named William Duckworth. The deceased, who was only twenty-one years of ago, had been engaged in company with his mate, a man named Greenway, in finishing a contract for gravelling, at Upokongaro. At the time of the accident they were removing gravel from the pit, when suddenly a great fall of

earth took place, just over where deceased was at work, striking him down, and almost burying him out of sight. His comrade ran to his assistance, but had just commenced the of extricating him from his distressing position, when a second slip took place, and Mr. Greenaway had scarcely time to spring out of the way, when a mass of earth, about four or five tons, fell with crushing weight, burying completely the unfortunate victim. Mr. Greenway, we are glad to be able to state, is but slightly injured. The Manawatu, Times of the 15th inst. gives the following particulars of the recent fire on Mr. Aker’s farm ;—A fire occurred on Tuesday night on the farm of Mr. Akers, Riverdale, whereby a valuable wheat stack was entirely consumed. It appears that the family went to bed early, and about eleven o’clock were awakened by shouts and the blowing of a horn on the other side of the river. On running out they found that the noise had been made by Mr. Moarad and seme others wishing to attract attention to the wheat stack being on fire. Although there were two other stacks, luckily they were separated by some distance, and so escaped destruction. As the house is situated at least fom hundred yards from the scene of the fire, it is impossible a spark from the chimney could have been the cause of the disaster. Mr. Akers’ brother passed within twenty yards of the stack early in the evening, when all was right, and as he was the last person in the paddock, the origin of the fire is enveloped in mystery, A carpenter named Jonathan Jackson has been missing from Palmerston North since the 7th instant. A message received in town on the 14th states that repeated search has been made for him by parties of volunteers, assisted by the police, but no trace has been discovered of him. It is supposed he has been drowned in the Manawatu River.

The lad Leonard Hancock was brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, charged with stealing fivepence from, the till of Mr. Davis’ shop, in Ouba-street, and was remanded for a week, in order that Mr. Crawford might communicate with the Government with a view to ascertaining what reformatorial Institution in the colony the lad could be sent to. Hancock is a very intelligent lad, and appeared to be quite penitent yesterday. He admitted having taken the money from the till, and added that two other lads remained watching outside while he went in and abstracted the money. Mrs. Davis said she had previously missed as much as three and four pounds, and this seems to point to a systematic style of robbery on the part of Hancock and his undetected associates, if credence is to be placed in his statement that others were concerned in his thefts. His father, who is a bricklayer by trade, appeared in. Court, and informed the police that his son (who will not be ten years’ of age until next September) is quite unmanageable. Under these circumstances, the sooner the boy is sent to a reformatory the better it will be for society and himself, and a few years’ detention there will perhaps have the effect of permanently diverting him from the evil courses into which he has so prematurely fallen.