MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 394, 29 December 1866, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The usual weekly meeting of the Hokitika Municipal Council was held last evening. There were present Councillors Cummin^, Williams, Clarke, Ecclesfield, Hungerford, Fitzsiminons, Anderson, and the Chairman. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Crs dimming and Hungerford expressed their dissatisfaction at the apathy of the Provincial Government in not having supplied the map of the town of Hokitika, as it was impossible for the Council to progress with the levelling of the streets until its arrival. Permission to Mr M'Kay to erect a verandah was granted, subject to the usual condition.

A telegram from Mr Bright, M.P.C., intimating that the Validation Bill was passed, and that he was then in conference with the Government as to the Municipal Council Bill, was received, and the thanks of the Council accorded to that gentleman. Cr. Williams asked permission to withdraw his former notice of motion for " the supply of water," and the substitution of the following in lieu thereof: — "That a committee bo formed to enquire from competent persons if it is advisable to test the town of Hokitika as to the practicability of obtaining an artesian supply of wator." Leave was granted, and Cr. Williams then said that he had been in conference with G. S. Sale, Esq., and that gentleman had expressed it as his opinion that the Government would,

in the event of a plentiful supply of water being obtained, subsidize the Council to the extent of one-half of the actual cost. Cr Williams added that the estimated cost would be about L4OO. Cr Cumming had pleasure in seconding the motion. After a little discussion the matter was re- i icrred to the Public Works Committee. Cr Clarke moved ' That tlie Town Clerk be instructed to write to G. S. Sale, Esq., requesting that efficient lifeboats be procured for this port and Greymouth ; also, that Munby's patent apparatus be obtained for tho said ports." He referred to the late boat acoident as illustrative of the urgent necessity [or ii lifeboat, ani iLe dangerous nature of the harbor entrance rendering it essential for the preservation of life that lifeboats should be provided. Cr Williams seconded tho motion. Crß Hungerford, Ecclesfield, and Cumming likewise advocated tho procuration of such boats, together with Manby's apparatus. The motion was then put, and carried nem. con. A letter was read and received from Mr Barff, M.P.C., relative to the establishment of District Courts in Westland. . Certain Bye-laws prepared by tho Town Clerk were submitted, and ordered to lie on the table till the next night of meeting. The Council was then adjourned for a week.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Yesterday, an inquest was held by the District Coroner, Samuel Beswick, Esq., at the Okarita Hotel, Revell street, touching the death of Patrick Cashmore. The following evidence was taken :—: — John Mullen, being called and sworn, deposed — I am a farm laborer. On the morning of the 27th instant I went out on the Totara Lagoon in a boat to look at some fishing lines that I had set the previous night. I saw something floating on the surface of the water, I pulled up to it ; I saw that it was the body of a man ; I took the painter out of the boat and put it round the body, and then made for the shore. This was in the Totara Lsgoon, about a mile south of the Punt. I reported the matter to Mr James Turner, one of the survey party, and he advised me to forward information thereof to the police, Hokitika. I did not do so, but I went with Mr Turner in the surveyor's boat, to where the body was. I then took the rope from the body, and , secured it with flax. I then left the body, as did also Mr Turner. We acquainted Mr M'Donald with the circumstance, and showed him the body. He had it removed. I did not know deceased, but I recognize the body now lying at the Police Camp as the one found by me in the Totara Lagoon. Thomas Andrews, being called and sworn, deposed — I am driver of a dray belonging to Mr Brooke. On Saturday last I was going from the South Spit, Hokitika, to Jones. There were five horses to the dray. I arrived at the punt at the lagoon at about 9 a.m. I drove on to the punt. When the punt capsized I had no previous warning. I was precipitated into the water, right underneath the punt. As soon as I freed myself I got on to the punt and commenced to cut the horses adrift. Jimmy (the punt man) was on the punt when I got from under it I heard a man say that he had seen a body floating up the river. I did not attempt to save any of the men who were on the punt. I did not see any requiring assistance. About a minute elapsed from the time the punt waa capsized till I got out of the water. Two of the holies swam ashore, the remaining three were drowned. I was taken off the punt in a boat. I went up the river in the boat in quest of a body that had been seen floating therein. I did not see any body. Tha-punr rnpp ran fhvoiyjVi blocks. T consider that the punt was perfectly safe. Thomas Brooke, being called and sworn, deposed — I am a carrier between Hokitika and Ross. I remember the morning of Saturday last; on that morning I was driving a waggon; it belonged to James M'Mulleu. He was inside, sleeping. I stopped his waggon about thirty yards on the north side of the punt, so as to enable my own dray (which was in advance) to get across. I got off the waggon, and was standing close by the water looking at the punt crossing ; noticed the punt was being carried down by the current. I then saw that the rope had parted. I called out to my drayman, who was on the punt, but he did not reply. The current caught the punt, and it at once turned over. I then ran back to the waggon and aroused M'Mullen. Before I reached the waggon I turned round and saw Renny on the punt. I then ran to the boat and pulled off. I saw Renny up the lagoon. When M'Mullen and myself got to the punt we found that one of the punt men had got on to it, a3 also had Tommy and John Cashmore. We found that some of the horses had been freed. We then took the men off the punt, and pulled up the lagoou to where I had last seen Renny. Wo could not find him. I saw nothing of the deceased. On a former occasion I told the punt men that the punt ropes were not tight enough. The ropes were run through an iron thimble which was fastened to a post. The rope was lashed back. The accident was caused through the lashing giving way. John Cashmore, being called and sworn, deposed — I am a brother of the deceased, and part owner of a punt at the Totara Lagoon . On Saturday last at about nine o'clock in the morning there were five horses, a dray, and five men in the punt, including deceased and myself. When nearly across I observed some water in the corner of the punt, but did not think that there was anything unusual in that. The water was in the after part of the punt and we pushed the horses in the front part to balance the punt, and while doing this she capsized. I saw the horse kicking violently, and had great difficulty in extricating myself, which, however, I eventually succeeded in doing. I then called to my brother (deceased) , and Mr Mould answered me by telling me to lay hold of the rope which was then beside me- I did so, and by that means I got on to the punt. I then looked out for the other men, but did not see them. Messrs Brooke and Mould were engaged liberating tho horses. I was taken off the punt in a boat. Mrs Mould told me that she had seen two bodies going up the river. No person went up to rescue them, as it was considered useless. Assistance was rendered b 7^ ouie people, by which means the horses were freed. Made an occasional search every day up and down the lagoon, in the hope that I might see the bodies. One of them was found the day before yesterday. The body was brought into town. I recognised it as the body of my brother. He could not swim. The accident was caused by the punt-rope giving way. James Mould, being sworn, deposed— l am part owner of the punt at the Totara lagoon. I cannot say whether Renny (who was drowned) or myself fastened the punt-rope. A thimble about three incheß in diameter was laid into a three-inch rope. There were lanyards from the thimble to the post, and through the eye thus formed a large rope was passed, and fixed with sizing, but no hitch. I think it would have been much better to have had a hitch in the rope. After the punt capsized, and I had got on to it, I saw the body of the deceased and that of Rsnny floating down with the current.' They were about twenty yards distant from me. I did not make "any effort to rescue them, as I had no means at hand to enable me to do bo. When I got off the punt, I, in company with others, went up the rivor in quest of the bodies ot Cashmore and Kenny, but did not find them. The Coroner summed up the evidence, ana tho jury returned the following verdict:— " That the deceased met his death by drowning through the capsizing of the Totara punt, A rider was also addod, oxpreßsive of the necessity for the providing of efficient appliances for the working of the punt.