A MOST LAMENTABLE FATALITY.

DEATH OF MR H. A. GRAY AT KAMO. SECRETARY OF KAIPARA VITICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. It is our painful duty to chronicle the sudden death of Mr H. A. Gray, Secretary to the Kaipara Viticultural Association, which took place last Saturday at the Kamo Mineral Springs. The deceased gentleman, who was a resident of Whakapirau, Kaipara, came to Whangarei last Saturday with the intention of spending a few days' holiday in the district, and being a stranger here, brought letters of introduction to several residents. On tlie Saturdaymorning, he went up to Kamo with his camera and called at the Kamo Sanatorium. He looked up Mr Breeden, the manager, he said he would hare a bath. He requested to be permitted to take the small bath — carbonic acid gas bath — but Mr v ßreeden dissuaded him from doing so, and suggested he should take a hot batb, which he agreed to. Mr Breeden prepared a hot bath for him and left him. Mr Breeden in the meantime went away to have a shave, and in about 15 minutes thereafter, having completed his toilet, went to look up Mr Gray. On going to the hot bath, he found most of his clothes there but Mr Gray absent. He immediately proceeded to the other baths, and coming last to the small one found Mr Gray there hanging on the rings with his head in the water, apparently dead. Mr Breeden at once hauled him out and shouted for assistance. Everything was done to resucitate life, and Dr. Sweet was immediately sent for. All efforts were futile, the poor fellow was past human aid. The medical evidence goes to prove that the deceased was an unfit subject i for a carbonic acid bath. He had sufi fered from lung troubles, and had he i consulted a medical man he would have been warned not to take this bath. No . one suffering from any lung trouble should ever take this bath. In the case of Mr Gray ,the trouble was inten- , sified from the fact of his first taking a hot bath and then dashing into a cold [ bath. This undoubtedly increased the ' danger, and inhaling the carbonic ' acid gas he was asphyxiated. Death would be instantaneous and painless. Many similar cases have occurred from time to time at the various sanatoria through people taking these baths indiscriminately and without medical advice. This points to the absolute . necessity of printed rules and regula- ; tions being at once posted up at the , different spas throughout the colony. The deceased Mr Gray w.as a most , popular fellow in the < Kaipara, and generally esteemed as a most enterprising and energetic settler. We believe he leaves a widow and one sun, I who are comfortably provided for.