BULLER COAL AND RAILWAY COMMITTEE.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1079, 10 June 1873, Page 2

BULLER COAL AND RAILWAY COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Committee was held on Friday afternoon, principally to cousult with Mr Albert Beetham as to the best line of co-operative action with the Albion Coal Mining Company, to promote the objects of the Committee. Mr Beetham imparted to the Committee such information as he had obtained in Wellington as to the intentions of the Government with regard to the railway; and explained that the Directors of the Albion Company could not define their line of action until after the report of the G-eneral Government Engineers had been received as to the comparative merits of harbor works at the Ngakawhau or a railway to Westport. The Hon E. Richardson, Minister of Public Works, had intimated his willingness, in the event of such report being favorable to the construction of the railway, to at once authorise the expenditure of the vote, and even an additional sum if requisite, and had also promised that no time should be lost in sending down two Civil Engineers to report thereon. The provisional directors of the Albion Company intended to hold a meeting at Nelson on or about the 25th instant, at which delegates from the shareholders would attend to appoint the permanent board of directors, and also to consider the report of the Government Engineer, which he anticipated would be in the possession of Minister of Public Works by that date, Upon such report, as coming from professional and unbiassed authority, the Company would base their line of action. The Committee afterwards discussed the form of reply to his Honor the Superintendent's telegram of the 30th ultimo, referring to the grant of a prospecting license over the Waimangaroa portion of the Coal Reserve to Walker, of Auckland- It was decided that the following reply should be telegraphed:— " The Coal and Railway Committee regret that such large concessions should have been made especially as it may impede action of General Government regarding the railway. Tour explanation has been published as requested,"

INQUEST. An inquest Was held at Gilmer's Post Office Hotel, Wakefield street, on Saturday last, on the body of Walter Haddock, found drowned at the Blackwater on the previous Thursday. Thomas Thompson: Knew deceased) who had kept the Ferry Hotel at the Blackwater. Saw him last alive on Saturday. Was working at a bridge about four miles below the Blackwater on Thursday last, when James Sellars told witness that deceased was drowned. Went up to the Blackwater and saw the body lying in the bedroom. It was covered with sludge from immersion in the river. James Moore then took witness into the garden to show him where the body was fouud. The place was in the middle of the garden. Prom the marks showing the height to which the water had risen witness reckoned that the place where the body was found was about six feet below the highest level of the water. The hat of deceased was lying near the place, and there was a raft alongside made of two planks battened together and a cask nailed to one end, and was made fast by a line to a stump j there was also a hammer and nails on the ground, and lines with hooks, probably intended to grapple the painter of a boat which deceased was probably trying to get at. The place where the body was found is seventy or eighty feet back from the level of the river. Samuel Thorpe, M.D., gave evidence as to result of post mortem examination* The body of deceased was that of a man probably from thirty to forty years old; Death he attributed to asphyxia, and there was nothing in the appearance of the body inconsistent with death by drowning. Henry Hunter, constable, gave evidence as to having viewed the body and found no marks of violence thereon. He had also examined the place where it was found. His evidence corroborated in all particulars that given by the first witness. A verdict of found drowned was recorded.