Untitled

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 850, 15 August 1871, Page 2

Tho funeral of John Henderson, miner, who lost his life by a powder explosion on Tuesday last, in the claim No. 1 South, Anderson's line of reef, In&ngahua, took place at Westport on Saturday. The remains were buried in the Orawaiti Cemetery, and were followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of miners and storekeepers from the district. Owing to the absence of witnesses no inquest was held upon the body. The schooner Canterbury, which was stranded while entering the Bullcr river on Wednesday last, was got afloat on Sunday evening shortly before high water, bnt in consequence of the wind failing, and tho sea increasing, it was necessary to let hor go ashore once more. Her position is now, however, much more favourable than before. The s.s. Claud Hamilton was tendered at Hokitika on Saturday, and at Greymouth the same evening, leaving shortly afterwards for Nelson, where she arrived at 6 p.m. on Sunday. In the R.M. Court, yesterday, Annie Jallahee, charged with drunkenness, was fined 10s or in default 24 hours' imprisonment. Intelligence of a - painful character reached town early yesterday morning to the effect that .a miner named Michael Zambuletch, had met his death by drowning the previous day, having been upset in a canoe in the Inangahua river. It appears that tho deceased

and Edward Caiton were in the canoe for the purpose of proceeding to Westport, it being necessary for the latter to be placed under medical treatment, in consequence of his sight having been seriously injured by the powder explosion in a mining claim at Reefton on Tuesday last. Shortly after having started on the journey an island was reached which divides the luangahua into two branches, and at this point—about six miles above tho Landing—the canoe became unmanageable, filled with water, and sank. Carton remained in tho canoe until the water reached his chin, and lie then struck out for the right hand branch of the river, and succeeded in reaching the bank. Hecooyed forhis mate but met with no response, though ultimately his cries were heard, and search was then made for the missing one, whose body it was thought would bo recovered at the foot of the rapid, about three quarters of a mile lower down. Carton was conveyed to town, reaching Westport yesterday afternoon. On his arrival ho was admitted to the Hospital; and we are glad to learn that the extent of his injuries is not so great as was in the first instanco feared. The deceased Michael Zambuletch, was about fifty years of age, and is said to have beon a native of Cottaro, Dalmatia. He was generally known under the assumed name of Brown.

Mr Henry Douglas Jackson, Provincial Auditor of Nelson, has been appointed by his Excellency the Governor as Official Auditor for the Nelson South-west Goldflelds, Mr Jackson's duties will be to audit the accounts of the official agents belonging to the different mining eompanijs, under "The Mining Companies Limited Liability Act Amendment Act, 1869."

M'Donald, the owner of the Wangaehu Hotel, Wanganui, has been committed for trial on a charge of arson. The man Elliott, charged with complicity, has been acquitted, as M'Donald was the only witness against him, and he contradicted himself repeatedly whilst under cross-examination.

A telegram from Hawke's Bay announces the return of Ropata on the sth test. Several of his men were frozen to death. The major has left again for Poverty Bay, to bring his men to Wairoa, whence ho will strike inland to Waikarcmoana, He is still sanguino of catching Te Kooti. • An inquest was held at Hokitika on the 3rd inst. on the body of Thomas Smith, who died from the injurios accidentally received at Findlay and Haworth's saw mills. Dr Maunsell gave the following evidence as to the condition of the deceased when admitted to the hospital:—He was in an oxtreme state of collapse and almost pulseless, the right arm was dislocated at the shoulder, and there was great contusion of the soft parts. The left hip was dislocated, and there was comminuted fracture of the upper stand of tho thigh. Deceased was immediately placed under treatment, the dislocation of the shoulder reduced, and the leg set. All night he complained of violent pain in the liver, and he could keep nothing on his stomach. In the morning it was evident that he was sinking, and ho died at half-past oleven. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from injuries accidentally receivod at tho mill of Messrs Findlay and Haworth.