South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), Saturday 28 December 1861, page 3


GAWLER.

[From our own Correspondent]

December 24.

The first Municipal elections under the new Act are over, and I suppose the excitement is sub-siding, especially with those who so opposed the late Council while in office, and who at this election brought forward and nominated their own candidates.

The number of the Council is reduced from nine to seven, and it will be seen on reference to the new Council, that six out of the seven were in the old Council, viz. Mr James Martin, Mayor ; Messrs. T. Oliver Jones, and James Mold, North Ward; Messrs. Edward Clement, and Morris Lawrence, South Ward and Dr. Nott for East Ward, who were all elected, some without opposition, and the others by large majorities over their opponents. Mr. James Pile, a gentleman of independent property, is a colleague with Dr. Nott for East Ward. Such an expression of confidence as the town has awarded to those gentlemen of the old Council, will, no doubt, cause them to use their best efforts while in office for the furtherance and interest of the town of Gawler. I may, in closing this part of my letter, state, that the Presiding Officers Messrs. William L. Bathurst, George Gozzard, George Stephens, and J. T. Hankey (Returning Officer), performed their duties in a faithful manner, and received the thanks of the ratepayers.

A very violent storm passed over Gawler and its neighbourhood on Sunday last, doing great injury to the crops and gardens. The morning was exceedingly close and unpleasant. Shortly after 11 a.m. it began to thunder and lighten very much, and at 1 p.m., such a blast passed over us, accompanied with rain, as has not been felt for a long time before. Trees were blown down with their roots out of the ground, haystacks scattered, and some roofs carried away, while the streets in a few minutes were running with water. The lightning struck the ground on a farm belonging to Francis Ratcliff, about two miles above Gawler, igniting the straw and burning a place 60 yards long by about 15 yards wide, when the rain fell in such torrents as to quench it.

I have to record the sudden death of man named Patrick Flanaghan, which took place this afternoon, at the Mill Inn, just outside Gawler. It appears that Flanaghan, who was a sober, steady man, and has resided in and about Gawler for the last seven years

was on his return home from harvesting with several of his companions, when they called into the Mill Inn to wait for their last employer, who was to call there and pay them. They had two nobblers each. Having waited some time, Flanaghan was talking about going home and not to stay any longer, when

he was seen to fall on the floor. His mates immediately

raised him and carried him to the sofa in the next room, sending one of their number for a doctor, but before a doctor could arrive, and in less than 10 minutes, the poor fellow was dead. The deceased was a very quiet and inoffensive person, and generally respected as a working man. He was about 30 years. of age, of a dark and florid complexion, and I believe always a healthy man. A death so sudden was a great shock to his friends and acquaintances, and to the town generally. Such an event will surely call forth the words-" In the midst of life we are in death."

An inquest will be held to-morrow before Mr. H. D. Murray, S.M. I will send you the result.