Benjamin Hoskings, (4/3/1845-12/9/1890). "working in the main shaft"

Nenthorn, September 8.

A man named Hosking, employed in the main shaft of the Eureka mine, was seriously injured through a stone falling and striking his head. The stone fell a distance of 190ft, and inflicted a serious wound. No doctor has yet (4 p.m.) arrived. Word was sent to Palmerston and Strath-Taieri, but no answer has yet been received as to whether a medical man is coming.  -Otago Daily Times, 9/9/1890.

The Nenthorn Recorder of Saturday last reports the death, at Nenthorn, of an old Timaru resident, named Benjamin Hoskings, his death being the result of on accident. Hoskings was a well known and much respected working man here. He lived in St. John’s Wood, where his family still live. He had done a good deal of work on the breakwater, during Messrs Jones and Peters’, and Messrs Jones and Palliser’s contracts. He was a member of the Garrison Band, and of the Congregational Church, and acted as caretaker of the church while here. On a reduction of hands being made during the progress of the North Mole construction, Hoskings was one of those whose services were dispensed with. He then went to Greymouth, and subsequently to Nenthorn, where he had not been long before meeting with the accident which resulted in his death. The Recorder states that he was working in the main shaft of the Eureka mine on Monday the 8th inst, when some stones fell a distance of 190ft or so and struck him on the head. It appears that the horse employed to haul up the bucket turned too quickly, when the bucket was being emptied, and the lids of the shaft not being down, some stones escaped and fell down the shaft, one of which struck Hoskings and inflicted a nasty cut on the head. He was attended by Dr Hislop of Palmerston, who at first hoped to pull his patient through, but he died on the next Friday night, having never regained consciousness. Mrs Hoskings was telegraphed to and went to Nenthorn, arriving there a few hours before her husband died. She returned to Timaru on Wednesday. The family are left in poor circumstances. There are seven children, all girls, only two able to earn a little. Friends are interesting themselves to obtain help for the family in their sorrow and need.  -South Canterbury Times, 19/9/1890.

Timaru Cemetery. Timaru DC photo.