WEST COAST TIMES. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1865.

West Coast Times, Issue 56, 12 October 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1865.

The importance of the investigation into tho wreck of tho Samson has nduced us to dayoto more space to its report than our limits properly allow, and we have again to announce that several items of importance are postponed. Our next issue will, we hope, conclude this heavy but important report.

We are sorry again to have to chronicle the wreck of two more vessels, one on the south spit, the other on the north. The brigan. tino Jane Lookhart attempted to cross the bar yesterday, outward-bound to Sydney, but, in consequence of the breeze failing her when she got *nto the break, first drifting to the north, where she had a narrow escape from being beached, but a light breeze springing up, she cleared the surf, only to be swept as far to tho south, where, again getting into the rollers, she took the ground, and is now lying opposite the Titania, on the Bouth spit. It is, however, expected she will wash over into the channel. The other vessel in difficulties is no other than our old friend the Maid of the Yarra, who, in coming in yesterday from the Omeo (which vessel she had been light*ring) kept a little too close to the north spit, .and is now sharing the difficulties of the lady of the Lake. No time was lost by her agents in getting her cargo on the beach, for by (en o'clock last night she was discharged. Wo tincerely trust that a tide or two will put a few feet of water between her keel and the ground.

On Tuesday, last a fatal ' accident occurred on board the steamer Star of the South, through winch one of tho ship's company lost his life. The seaman in question"was proceeding aloft with a block and stoop in his hand, but when About balf-way up the fore-rigging ho was seen to miss his hold 'and fall overboard. It is supposed that he must havo struck against tho vessel's side, to**, although a good swimmer, he made not the slightest effort to save himself, but, after a faint struggle or two, sank. Tho body was recovered about ten minutes after wards ; life was, however, quite extinct. The flags of all the vessels in harbor weie halfmasted as a mark of sorrow for this untoward event, and the body was committed to the earth the same afternoon.

That fuat and fortunate boat, the steamship Alhambra, J. M'Lean, commander, baa once more made her appearance in our roadstead, bringing 269 passengers and some cargo for this port. She left Dunedin on the 7th instant, calling at the Bluff, Jackson's Bay, and Bruce Bay, and arrived in the roadstead early yestorday morning. On her passage down to Dunedin last time she mado the quiokest run on record from port to port — in 62 hours 15 minutes; her speed averaging 13 knots for the whole distance. She leav«fl for Dnnedin a,t two p.m. to-day.

An inquest on the body of a ivan, name unknown, was held ftt tho Union Hotel, on Saturday last, before O, O. Sohaw, Esq., J.p, Prom the evidence .adduced it appeared that a party of boatmen wero towing a boat up tho Teremakau river, and when about sixteen miles from the sen the dead body of a man was discovered lying on the beach ; they picked it up and brought it down to tho nxmth of tho river, and enmped there Some :l;jj*firs who wore travelling passed, and on inspecting the body said they knew a man had been drowned, and that his mates, had gono back to Christchurch ; they also believed that the deceased was a

native of Auckland, and by trade a shoemaker ; h's name they knew not. Constable Welsh stated that from the inspection he made of the body he should suppose deceased to be about forty or forty-five years of age, and about five feet ten inches iv height. A verdict of found drowned was returned.

An inquest was held on Monday by the Distriot Coroner (Dr. Beswick), at the Gridiron Hotel, on the body of Andrew S-nclair, who died on Saturday last. From the depositions it appears that the deceased had been a digger at the Kanieri, and that about four months ago ho fell down a precipice by which ho fractured his leg. He was taken to the hospital, where several operations were performed on the injured limb. He subsequently recovered sufficiently to onablo him to walk with the aid of a stick, but it was evident that the system had received a ahock and tho poor fellow grow gradually weaker. From the evidence of Charles Williams, it appeals that the deceased came to his house on Tuesday week in a very weak state, and gradually declined. The jury returned a verdict- of accidental death, and expressed their regret there was not sufficient hospital accommodation. On the person of the deceased was found a deposit receipt for on the London Chartered Bank, and an order on Messrs. Hall and Finlay for £88.

I On Tuesday last, an inquest was held on the body of a man named Samuel Stewart, who met his death in a tunnel on the Kanieri Terrace, through a fall of earth. From the evidence of Andrew Dickson, his mate, it appeared they were both in the tunnel on the day in qnestion. They had put a main set of timber in, and had entered and driven the latter half homo, when deceased, who was in the face clearing away for the false set, remarked that the main one was not upright, and commenced hammering it. In doing bo, he knocked the prop down, which brought both ground and timber upon him. About 20 tons is supposed to have fallen. A dozen men were employed for five hours in dig* ging him out. When recovered he was alive, but'gradually sank and died on Sunday morning last. Dr Anderson, who attended upon him, stated that deceased was partially paralysed when he first Baw him, and on Saturday it was extending, and his left thigh commenced swelling . He never saw him alive after Saturday night. His Bpine was much injured, which was tho cause of death. Verdict returned of "Accidental death."