The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1886.

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1703, 12 May 1886, Page 2

The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1886.

Reefton was startled at an early hour on Monday morning last by the intelligence of a shocking fatality whiflh occurred in the Welcome mine tope time after midnight on Sunday last A messenger oame in for Dr Whitton at about 3 a.m., and reported that two well known miners naved Batrick Byron and William Ryan bad been blocked in the company's on* .derground flue, and it was feared they had been suffocated. Later in the day news came in that both men had been got out, but both dead. So many reports are currentas to how the accident occurred that we deem it best to await the inquiry today, when the facts will no doubt be elicited. Mr Bird, R.M., was nok apprised of the accident until 2.30 p.m. on Monday, when he received a telegram stating that a* it was feared the bodies would not keep, it was advisable that the deputy Coronor should be directed to hold the inquiry. Mr Bird, however, left Westport at 5 o'clock yesterday mornin j, and reached Boatman's at 1 p.m., when he opened the inquest at once, and shortly after adjourned! to allow thel'burial to take place. The funeral left shortly after and was very largely attended, both of the unfortunate men tbeing highly esteemed. They were veryfoid residents of Boatman's and oame as mates to the Colonies many years ago. They were both unmarried, and have no relatives in the district. Shareholders in the Inangahua Low Level Tunnel Company, are reminded that tenders for the 2,285 shares which have become thefproperty of the coinyany, dose on Friday next, at 7 p.m. We never could understand what all the jubilation was about in Christchurch and Nelson over the London cablegrams received concerning the". East iaad West railway. We could never see more in the news, as we stated over a month ago, than that a %jmdicata'had' been found in London which was willing to undertake the work. But the intelligence was flashed about that the contract was signed, the whole thing settled, and nothing remaining to be done but^to indulge in congratulations and public rejoicings. The hastiness of these conclusions is now beiug shown, for not only is the contract si il unsigned, but nothiug final can be done in the matter until the House meeis. In ibis situation the Chrißtchurch Railway League has decided to postpone (he projected celebration, and to resume aviation from the point it was difecooiinued on the receipt of the first of Mr Scott's misleading messages. Mrs Dewing, a lady who was a prizewinner at the Sydney Exhibition for excellence in the revived and fashionable art of Poonah painting, is now in Reef ion, and in the course of a fortnight's stay will give instruction to those desiring it at her private apartments, Escbauge Hotel. Specimens of the work are on view at Mr Cohens, and will be found well worthy of inspection. All the necessary arrangements have been completed for holding the Volunteer ball on the 24th instant. There was no foundation for the report that the btiU had been postponed. The quarterly sitting of the Divhict Court was fixed for Monday laat, but as there were no cases for hearing the Court stands adjourned till the next term. The liquidation business pending will probably be taken at the next sitting of the District Court at Nelson. The Inangahna Rifles and Cadets assembled for parade on Monday evening, when they were put through manual, and platoon exercise and battalion drill ly Captain Burnbam. in presence of Major Webb. Buth companies acquitted themselves very creditably, and at the con- | elusion they were complimented by the Major on their general efficiency. ' Major Webb also announced that Capt. Burnham, and Lieut*. North, Boase, and Dowling had passed the officers' examination with great credit, and warmly congratulated them upon their wide knowledge of their duties. The Hon. Mr Tole has issued instructions to clerks of the R.M. courts that they shall not allow persons to examine court bonks or documents. The proceeding has been taken in consequence of the publication of an authorised book entitled "Whose who?" which professes to give the names of persons who have confessed judgment in answer to summonses issued out of these Courts. la reference to Ihe Oomaru encampment a " special reporter" of the Ota'{<> Daily Times said: — Looking back on the tlio encampment now, it mußt be admitted that though on the whole it was successful as a military display, there was great room for improvement in many instances. Among all the officers I have spoken with there is only one opinion about the camp management, and that is that it might have been greatly improved. It is evident, too, that many of the officers are quite incapable pf carrying out the duties

devolving upon tliem, and it would be j i well if the Government adopted athorough < system of examination in preference to j giving men commissions on the ground of long service. One of the newly-fled^ed ( majors on Saturday got his men into some 1 queer positions, and had it not been for the assistance of an officer belonging to another battalion he rould have had great j difficulty in getting his men through the < necessary movements. Such a state of i matters is not at all fair to the men, who , on the whole, are ajfine looking and intelligent body, and the Booner the incapable officers are reduced to their proper sphere the better it will be for the force as a whole. A barefaced fraud was committed on a Sydney bank on Wednesday, 2 1st ult. It has transpired that a person opened an account in January last fur a small amount at the Federal Bank. Withdrawals were T made until the amount was reduced to £17. On the day in question the depositor handed the ledger clerk a cheque for £12, which was initialled in the usual way and presented, the amount having in the meanwhile Yeen altered to £1200. The man received £600 in notes and £600 in gold. It is said that the alterations were clumsily made and ought to hare aroused the suspicion of the paying clerk, move especially as a similar swindle had been perpetrated a short time ago in Victoria. At the inquest heldjat the Thames into ibe circumstances by wbioh Thomas Casley came to his death in the Caledonian mine, the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death by suffocation," and added a rider that more caution should be exercised by managers in allowing men to work in the presence of gas. The two men who were suffocated (Hugh Hill and Thomas Casley) were working at No. 3 level about 600 ft or 700 ft from the shaft. Mr Frank Rowe passed them about 11 o'clock in the morning, and warned them that gas was floating about, telling them to be on the look-out for it. The gab became bo bad £about 1 o'clock that ihe candle* were put out in another part of ihe nine, and a search was immediately commenced for Hill and Casley and steps taken to dissipate the gw. It was not till 3.30 p. m. that the men were recovered, and at that time both were dead. Mr W. Montgomery, M.H.R., has forwarded to the Lyltelton Times copies of telegrams which have passed between himself and Mr Ormond in reference to his action on Captain Russell's moiion last session, which he considers to have been misrepresented in Ministerial and other quarters. Sir Julius Yogel, when speaking at Wellington, said that Mr Montgomery had gone to the Premier last session and offered, it he would ihrow over the Canterbury members, to bring him an equivalent, Jamount of support, giving as his authority Mr Ormond's speech. Mr Montgomery therefore asked Mr Ormond to state whether he had been *>rrectly reported. Io his reply Mr Ormond says : " Did not say you asked Stout throw Canterbury members over or resist their demands. I stated when the alliance Canterbury members with Opposition was formed you saw Stout, and were authorised to offer the support of myself and others against Russell's tnotiou believing the same a want of confidence." Mr Montgomery adds : I cannot believe Mr Stout's speech at Napier wa^ correctly reported in the papers there, for according to that report he not only attributed unworthy motives to Mr Ormood and myself, but also made an eoih'e'y incorrect statement re&peciing what he alleged took place between him and me" ONE BOX OF CLARKE'S B 41 PILLS is warranted to cure ail discharges from the Urinary Organs, in either sex (acquired or constitutional), Gravel, and Pains in the Back. Guaranteed free from Mercury. Sold in Foxes, 4>s 6*d each, by all Chemists and Pateut Medicine Vendors : Sole Proprietors, The Lincoln and Midland Counties Drug Co., Lincoln, England. Wholesale the Wholesale Houses.