UNKNOWN.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 26 August 1881, Page 2

UNKNOWN.

Tbe Honolu'u correspondent of the Auckland Heru'd writes :—

A trial will come off here next week, which has excited some local interest. The Rev. Father Larkio, well-known in Westland and Otago will be arraigned for manslaughter. Some weeks ago a lar;-© schoolroom, 100 feet by 60 which formed part of the college of St Louis, lately founded here by tbe rev. gentleman, fell to the ground whilst its ie'erior was being decorated for a firemen's ' social evening, to bave come off tbat very night. Six or seven persons were ia the building, and Father Larkio was standing on tbe verandah when one of tbe iron tie-rods which strengthened tbe place broke wi'h a loud report, and immed'atel.v afterwards the walls fell outwards, aod the whole roof came bodily down on the floor. Father La v k*n and three o Ihe is escaped in time. One young man, a native, was killed, and two women had a marvellous escape, being imprisoned under tbe centre of the roof, whence tbey were quickly extricated. The evidence at the coroner's inquest showed tbat tbe design of the roof was not sufficient in the opinion of all witnesses, except the architect, to meet the strain of so great a span, and that, to make matters worce, the design was departed from by tbe contractor, and the roof materially weakened by his omissions ; that the tie«rods bad been after* wards put in to prevent tbe walls from spreading ; the latter were clamped round the plates instead of being bolted through the rafters ; that one of these had broken, and been repaired two days before ; and that struts had been procured, and were to be put up that afternoon to strengthen the building, to meet tbe expected crowd would put upon it. Tbe coroner's jury brought in a verdict of manslaughter against the architect and Father Larkin, holding (as subsequently did the committing magistrate) that the latter had sufficient warning of the weakness of the building to make it his duty to allow no one within it until it had been made more safe. What the jury at the trial will find it is impossible to conjecture, because so very many here, both in his own Church and amongst the most influential Protestants, entertain such violent prejudice

against Father Larkin that he may not have a fair trial. The evidence by which it is sought to fix on him sicb knowledge of the state of the building as would render his allowing people in it culpable or even rash, is very weak indeed, and is opposed by tbe fact that be bad himself been for some lime inside shortly before the accident and wis standing at the door wben it occurred. Three boys, lately from New Zealand, named Frederick Clarke and Willinmand 'Leonard Webb, had a narrow escape. They were amusing themselves close by one corner of the building,;but,bad T fortunately been prohibited fiom entering lest they should int'erferefwii-h'the work going on within.