Old news from Armidale and New England

Thursday 5 March 1863, The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser

(From the Armidale Express, Feb. 28.)

The greater portion of the weather this week has been muggy and sultry, and there have been a few showers, with a good deal of distant lightning.

Deaths by Drowning. – On the 16th instant a German labourer named John Nebey, aged 30, belonging to Europambela, was accidentally drowned. – On Thursday week there was also a man, whose name we cannot ascertain, drowned in Blick’s River, on the Grafton Road.

Fatal Accident. – We are informed that on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning a man known as “Lanky” was thrown from his horse near Walcha, and killed.

INQUEST. – Mr. L. Markham, district coroner, held an inquest at Gostwyck on Saturday last, on the body of Elizabeth Bond, a widow who had resided at one of the out-stations. It appeared that on the 18th inst. deceased went to the stockyard at the head station for some meat, and that at sundown she was seen by Mr. Gill, the superintendent, returning to the hut, but on the opposite side of the creek. On Friday morning a shepherd named Conway found her body lying in the creek, and it would appear that in attempting to cross the creek, whether in darkness or otherwise, she bad missed the proper crossing place, got out of her depth, and was drowned. An open verdict was returned that the deceased had been found drowned in the Gostwyck Creek.

THE Bank at Armidale. – The premises hitherto occupied as a branch of the Joint Stock Bank not having been found suitable for the expansion of the business, tenders are being invited for a new building, by the Bank authorities. We have seen the plan, and can say that when it is carried out it will give Armidale a finer building than it yet possesses. The front will be of two lofty stories, with a palisade in front, and the windows will be of plate glass.