Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 11 March 1857, Page 2
We have to record the melancholy death, by drowning, on the 3rd instant, of
Henry Lawson, Esq., and his shepherd, Henry McLean. The melancholy event
occurred at Otakaroa, a creek running from the Waitaki river. The above
gentleman, who had only within the last three weeks become a resident in the
locality, was engaged in sheep-washing, when the shepherd, in trying to rescue
some sheep, got into a deep hole; Mr. Lawson immediately swam to his rescue,
when both sank to rise no more. The bodies were recovered within three hours
afterwards. Although the prompt medical aid of Dr. Rayner was immediately
procured, life was of course extinct. This event has cast a gloom over all in
the locality ; and though Me. Lawson had so lately become a resident there; he
was generally beloved.
Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 21 November 1857, Page 3
We have another unhappy instance of loss of life by drowning in the river
Rangitata to record. It happened in the middle of October. The deceased, whoso
name was Adam Clarke, was a surveyor, and very respectably connected. He was on
his way to Mount Peel Station, to pass some time there until he should obtain an
appointment in his profession. He slept one night at Mr. Lockhart's station, and
then proceeded towards Mr. Russell's, only six miles distant ; but did not
arrive there without passing a night on the way, under the hills. At Russell's
he passed another night, and in the morning set out again, being supplied with
food and matches, and also receiving several warnings not to attempt to cross
the river alone, and in ignorance of this place. He was not seen again till
nearly a week afterwards, when his body was found lying on a gravel spit, not
far from Mr. Moorhouse's station. A white bag, which served to identify him, was
found tied about his neck, which may have been a considerable cause of death.
His features were not recognizable; but, besides the bag, a knife, and envelopes
bearing his name and address, were sufficient evidences of identity. There had
been no fresh in the river, nor had the body been swept far down. The stream
appeared shallow, and the unhappy man, who, being a new arrival, was ignorant of
the immense force of the current, and was a good swimmer, had evidently ventured
in rashly by himself, though he had been repeatedly and distinctly cautioned
against so doing. The warning conveyed by this occurrence should be deeply
impressed upon all new arrivals.
Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 4 June 1859, Page 4
From Timaru we learn that houses and inhabitants are increasing very fast. The
want of houses is very much felt. Timaru is like Christchurch and Lyttelton in
this respect. We understand that to meet the demands for limber a contract has
been taken for the supply of two or three thousand feet on the beach, from
Auckland. The Deal boat-men, whom we mentioned as having undertaken the beach
service under arrangement with Mr. Le Cren, have arrived, and proved themselves
most useful in loading and unloading the Spray, during her recent visit to
Timaru. Lyttelton Times, May 18.
Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 8 June 1859, Page 2
Married.
On the 29th May, at Riccarton Church, by the : Rev. Croasdaile Bowen, incumbent,
Francis Jollie, , Esq., of Nelson, and Peel Forest, in this province, eldest son
of the late Francis Jollie, Esq., of Carlisle, England, to Jane, eldest
surviving daughter of the late Rev. Blakley Cooper, M.A., rector of Lewcombe,
and vicar of Yetrminster, in the county of Dorset, and widow of the late Rev.
George Fort Cooper, M.A., of the latter parish. — Lyttelton Times.
Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 4 June 1859, Page 4
An inquest was held at Pariora, seven miles from Timaru, before R.H. Rhodes. Esq.,
J.P., on the body of a man named John Dummett, who had been employed as driver
of the government dray on the works in the neighbourhood. He left Timaru on the
6th instant, and while on the road, by some accident fell off the dray and under
the wheel, which passed over his head and killed him instantly. The jury
empanelled, after hearing the evidence of a man who was with Dummett at the
time, returned a verdict of accidental death. It appears that ho had spirits
with him, and was not sober at the time of the accident. — Id. The horse
Retribution, belonging to the late Mr. J. Sidebottom, was put up to auction on
Saturday last and sold for £75.
Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 13 December 1862, Page 3
Walker's station, at Four Peaks, Timaru district, was destroyed by fire on
Saturday last.
Otago Witness, 31 January 1863, Page 2
Great Fire at the Arowenua Bush.— A fire broke out in the Arowenua Bush last
Monday, which, I am sorry to say, has been attended with most disastrous
consequences to the bushmen and other parties interested. An inquest into the
origin of the fire will be held I believe on Wednesday next, at present it is
involved in mystery. For the whole week the fire has been steadily burning,
causing great destruction ; nearly all the stacked firewood, some 300 ends
belonging to the different parties, has been completely destroyed, and a large
quantity of standing timber. Yesterday, in the bush, the fire was still burning
with unabated fury, being greatly augmented by the strong nor' wester then
blowing. It is to be hoped that this morning's rain will do something towards
quenching the flames, but I fear that hardly enough has fallen to do much good.
The Maories also have suffered, not only in the loss of standing timber, but
also by the destruction of some of their huts which the fire swept down in its
course. — Timaru correspondent of the Press.
North Otago Times, 14 April 1864, Page 4
On the 21at of April, 1862, while a person named E. Griffiths in the employ of
Mr. Lockhart, was crossing cattle over the Waitaki River, about a mile and
a-half above Low and Bruces ferry, the horse instead of striking out sank, and
when it came to the surface Griffiths was absent, a search was immediately made
but without success. On the 6th of April, instant, while a Maori named Billy
Blue was crossing the river he found on the Canterbury side the skeleton of a
man, with one foot inside a boot which has since been identified by some of the
servants on the station, (Mr Lockharts) as the property of Griffith's, and worn
by him when drowned. It is therefore supposed that the skeleton found is his.
Otago Witness, 5 April 1862, Page 8
Destruction of the Timaru Hotel, in the occupation of Mr. Sam. Williams, by
fire, about 2 o'clock on the morning of the 7th March. The fire was first
observed by the cook of the hotel, who immediately gave the alarm, but it had
already commenced to burn the roof of the verandah rooms, and although an
attempt to extinguish it was made by the people, who very soon assembled in
large numbers, it was given up as hopeless, and their energies directed to
saving Mr. Beswick's store. There were no less than fifteen people sleeping in
the hotel that night, and although they had time to save themselves, yet the
uncertainty of the whereabouts of the fire (for the house was filled with
smoke), gave them no time to think of saving their property, consequently most
of the lodgers suffered more or less loss. The progress of the flames was so
rapid that in about a couple of hours nothing remained but the two blackened
chimneys, rendering destruction more complete by looking like into _umnn_
erected to its memory. The house, which belonged to Messrs Rhodes, is insured,
but the furniture, which belonged to Sam Williams, was not. Suspicion of
incendiarism having fallen upon a man named Hugh Williams, who had been
threatening Sam Williams the night before, to blow him to blazes, and other
places, he was Liken charge of by the police, and lodged in gaol that morning.
The only account he could give of himself was that he had been sleeping under a
tussock. Next day a coroner's inquest was held, and several witnesses examined,
Hugh Williams among others ; they all agreed that the fire commenced in the
little parlour mentioned before, and the evidence of the servants of the house
went to show that after ten o'clock, no one had been in that room, and that when
the house was out for the night the window of the parlour was shut by Mr
Williams himself, and when the ___ was observed, the window was wide open.
The examination of other witnesses went to show that ___urs had several times
been used by Hugh Williams against Sam Williams, and also his rely strange
behaviour during the fire. The jury, after sitting from 1 1 till 6 o'clock,
hearing witnesses, came to the decision that " the fire was the act of an
incendiary, and that in their opinion Hugh Williams was the man that set fire to
the building. He has since been examined by the Resident Magistrate at Timaru,
and committed for trial at the next sessions.
Otago Witness, 10 October 1863, Page 5
A fatal accident occurred at Timaru on the 26th ult. terminating in the death of
a little girl and the serious injury of her mother. It appears that a dray
belonging to Messrs Studholme, left town that morning by the South road,
carrying about two tons of wire. In addition, the dray conveyed a woman and two
children as passengers. On arriving at a part of the road which had been
recently formed, but not yet shingled, one of the wheels sank to the axle,
cabsising the dray and burying the woman and one of the children under the wire.
The driver unable by himself to rescue the suffers, started to Timaru for
assistance. When the unfortunate sufferers were extricated it was found that the
child, a fine little girl, five years old, was quite dead. The mother sustained
serious injuries about the legs, but is doing well. An inquest was held on the
following day, and a verdict is accordance with the facts returned.
Otago Witness, 5 March 1859, Page 4
Port Chalmers
Feb. 28 — The Corsair sailed for Timaru.
North Otago Times, 24 March 1864, Page 4
PORT OF TIMARU.
Arrivals —
March 16. Maid of the Yarra. s s , from Lyttelton.
March 17. Geelong, from Oamaru.
Departures —
March 17. Maid of the Yarra, s.s, for Lyttelton, with wool,
Geelong, for Lyttelton, with 160 bales wool.