TAIRUA.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3062, 7 December 1878, Page 2

TAIRUA.

(fbom oub own cobbbbpondbnt).

Nevesville, This day.

FATAL ACCIDENT AND INQUEST.

An inquest was held at Mr Wilson's Tairua Junction" Hotel on Tuesday, 26th ult., before- Robert Wigmore, Esq., Coroner, to enquire into the cause of the death of Patrick Costello, bushman. A respectable jury of fourteen were sum* moned by Sergeant Joyce. The following gentlemen answered to their respective names at the proper time:— Bradshaw Wigmore, foreman, Alma Wigmore, John O'Brien, Patrick Nolan, John Dodd, Hugh Robinson, Thos. Wilson, William O'Shannessy, John Gallagher, James Campbell, Levi Dodd, William Lowden, William Small and John Scelly. The jury being sworn in by tne Coroner, the following evidence was elicited :—

John Gostejlo, /brother of deceased, deposed that—ln company with my brother and a man named O'Connor I was employed jacking logs out of the bush to the rolling road, when, the| end of the log we were working at slipped, forcing deceased against a stump, crushing his left side, leaving him powerless. I lifted him in my arms, when he observed quite sensibly he thought he- was dying. We carried him to the whare as soon •as possible, and used every remedy at hand for his recovery.' He remained quite sensible, and seemed to be getting better until Sunday evening, the day after the accident, when he became very uneasy, and began to swell in the abdomen, and died apparently without much pain about II p.m. „..;.; "... '■■' '■•; . /■..-■ .-.'■ , : ■... ■.'., .;

By the foreman of the jury—The usual precaution was taken in shifting the log. fro blame was attributable to myself or

his other mate; it was purely accidental. Deceased was my brother, and wai about 19 years old. ' , • Patrick O'Connor simply corroborated the statement of the last witness, and the jury were unanimous that deceased came by his death accidentally. v MOBE ACCIDENTS. The number of accidents latterly in the Tairua Company's bush 13 really startling, particularly within the last month. In addition to those enumerated in my lasl there have been John Garrey, brought down with bruised leg and foot; John Johnson, with broken leg; a man named Simpson nearly severed his foot in two with an axe; another man in Mr Pagan's • employ was taken to Sbortland on Saturday, suffering from paralysis; and a young fellow named James Glenn died at Mr Cleaver's from consumption. The foregoing again shows how desir* able it is that some immediate stop should >c taken to procure the service!, of .a medical man. We should not probably . have had to record the death of Coitello had medical assistance been obtained in time, and the accidents would iose half their seriousness if immediate/gttention could be paid to them. Mean* Wilson and Cleaver's establishments have of late presented quite the appearance of hospitals, and their.respective wives the nurses thereto, and I would like to see r some substantial recognition made by the Tairua community to these good people for voluntary services rendered to sufferers brought.to their houses to await further transit. GENBBAL. The mills I am sorry to'state are still idle, but it is hoped the usual Christmas fresh will enable them to again commence operations. A large amount, of gum is being shipped from the upper landing and the Pipi Creek. The diggers I presume are preparing- for their Christmas. hotidays. , During the week I have visited Whangamata, where another busy scene presents itself. The extensive premises of Mr J. Sainsbury, wisely built close to the beach, are the only buildings in this large tract of country. The harbor is beautiful, at the entrace of which a large and high promontory stands out m bold relief against the mighty ooean . beyond. No less than three vessels, namely, the Louise, Wanderer, and Sunderland, were lying in the bay on my arrival, windbound. Mr Sainsbury seems a perfect combination of storekeeper, gum merchant, bush contractor,, and fisherman. The store is most extensive, with the largest and best selection of goods I have witnessed in any country district. He is getting a ' large tract of land under cultivation, and for which purpose he has imported nearly every labor saving machine extant. The most novel mode of manuring land I have ever seen is practised by this gentleman. He has a gigantic net by which he catches tons of fish, conveying them' on to the land. They are buried in the furrows with the plough. This system seems to be a good one by the appearance of the crops. There are a number of cattle in good condition, and for a' swine raising district it cannot be excelled. The proprietor should consider himself a very fortunate man, though he deserves it all, for his energy is untiring.