WASTE LANDS BOARD
Mr Nelson Thompson applied for a quarry licence in the Mid-Wakatip district. It was resolved that a frontage of two chains of the area at Picnic Hill be granted him at the rate of Ll per annum. -Otago Daily Times, 10/6/1871.
Mr Nelson Thompson is the successful contractor for the road from Queenstown to Arthur's Point. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 13/3/1872.
THE SHOTOVER RIVER AND ITS MINES (excerpt)
How long will it take to prospect this vast area of mountainous undulations? And how long will it take to exhaust its mineral wealth ? Already the great future in store for this portion of the district begins to dawn upon the residents. A township — a somewhat straggling one it is true — has been surveyed at Skippers, and improvements of the most permanent character are noticeable. There is a public school built of stone, and Mr Johnston, of the Otago Hotel, has made a beginning with re-building his hotel in stone. The new building is partly excavated out of the side of a hill, and substantiality built in stone and lime. Mr Nelson Thompson, who is creditably known for the substantially of his work, is the builder. The first section, which is now nearing completion, will be furnished and set apart chiefly for visitors. No expense is spared to make the accommodation equal to the best of any up-country house, and, combined with Mrs Johnston's considerate kindness and attention, will make a visit to the unique township of Skippers a pleasant remembrance to all tourists and travellers who may be attracted to it and its mines. Already the number of ladies and gentlemen who penetrate so far is steadily increasing, and all pronounce themselves as highly delighted with the trip, which with time and the completion of the dray-road promises to become one of the most favorite excursions from Queenstown. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 4/6/1886.
THE COUNTRY
Improvements. — Mr G. Heller has made some rather extensive and substantial improvements to his business premises at Arrowtown, including a new and enlarged furnace oven, the builder of which was Mr Nelson Thompson, who is deserving of great credit for the manner in which the work has been carried out. Such enterprise as this shows that some of our business men still have faith in the future of the district. -Otago Witness, 26/5/1892.
FOUND DROWNED.
A man, whose name, from a letter found in his pocket, is supposed to be Nelson Thompson, was found drowned in the harbor this afternoon. His hat and coat were noticed hanging up in one of the wharf sheds by the night watchman. The unfortunate fellow had come from Arrowtown, and was staying at the Gridiron Hotel, with the intention, it is stated, of going into the hospital for treatment for a throat disease. An inquest will be held. -Evening Star, 19/7/1893.
INQUEST.
An inquest was held at the Wharf Hotel this morning before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury of six (Mr John Hetherick, foreman) on the body of Nelson Thompson, who was found drowned yesterday. George Walton said he had been residing in the colony for about forty years. He recognised the body as that of Nelson Thompson, whom he had known since 1863. He believed he was born in County Antrim, and had been in this colony since 1861. He used to be a gold miner for many years, but for some years past he had followed the occupation of contractor. He was fifty-four or fifty-five years of age, was married, and had resided at Arrowtown, where his family still reside. Deceased came to Dunedin about the 5th inst., and resided with witness. He came here to get medical treatment for a sore throat. He was to have gone into the hospital yesterday for treatment. On Tuesday night he remarked to witness that he might as well be dead, for he could neither sleep nor take any nourishment, and it was hardly worth his while undergoing an operation, seeing that the medical men held out so little hope of his recovery. Witness tried to induce him to look at things in a better light, but he still said that it was not worth his while doing so. At ten o’clock on Tuesday night deceased got up from the sofa and left the house, and he (witness) never saw him alive. Deceased seemed to be more depressed than he should have been if he had been in his right mind.
William Sheeran, a tailor, residing in Stuart street, said he was on the cross wharf yesterday, when his attention was attracted to a body in the water. The arms of the body were hanging over the piles, and the head was just out of the water. With the assistance of a sailor from the ship Waimate the body was brought to the wharf. It was quite dead, and had apparently not been in the water long.
Alexander McMillan, night watchman on the wharf, said that at about 3 a.m. yesterday he found a hat tied with a boot lace on the look of the S shed. An envelope was also attached to the lace bearing the address of “Nelson Thompson, care of T, Lawson, Gridiron Hotel.”
Dr Stenhouse also gave evidence.
The jury brought in a verdict to the effect that deceased drowned himself while temporarily insane. -Evening Star, 20/7/1893.
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