WAITAHUNA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 233, 18 July 1872, Page 5

WAITAHUNA.

(From our Own Correspondent.) Captain Baldwin, the travelling SubCommissioner of the Government Life Assurance-Department, delivered a lecture oh " Government Life Assurance," in the Athenaeum here, on Wednesday, July 10th: There was a very fair attendance, considering the short notice given and the wretched state of the roads in the district Mr. M. Iliggins occupied the chair. The delivery of the lecture occupied about an hour and a half ; and at its conclusion, the lecturer was, on the motion of Mr. S. Wilson, accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Captain Baldwin, in replying, stated that it was within a few days of eleven years since he first set foot in Waitahuna — in company with Mr. Gabriel Read. They were on a prospecting tour, and he wasfied out the first gold ever obtained on Waitahuna. He got three-quarters of a penny weight to the first dish of dirt he washed, and had the gold in^his possession still. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings, Capt. Baldwin's visit has resulted in some few making provision for those dependant upon them, while others are. talking about doing it. Tt; these I would say recollect what Capt. Baldwin said about the danger of procrastination, and go at once to Mr Clarke, who is the Government agent here, and do the business at once. At the quarterly nice ting of the Waitahuna School Committee, held on Friday July 12th, the secretary was instructed to write to Vincent Pyke, Esq., asking him to give a lecture at; an early date in aid of the school funds. An inquest was held on Wednesday July 10th at the Golden Age hotel, before Vincent Pyke, Esq., Corner, on the body of James Brown, miner, who was the previous day found dead in Edie andCo's water race near Manuka hill. It appeared that deceased who was a man of intemperate habits was last seen alive about two o'clock on the 4th instant, by. Mr. Murphy, the manager of the Havelock water race. He was then under the influence of liquor and was coming from Manuka Creek to his hut. He was next seen lying in the race mentioned almost covered with snow and quite dead. 1 The race was four feet deep on the upper side and between the time he was supposed to have fallen in and the finding of his body, there was a heavy snow storm. Constable i otingson said he had examined the body and found only a slight abrasion above the left eye. He was of opinion that deceased had been sleeping and being rather confused when he awoke rolled into the race. The jury returned a verdict, " Died from exposure."