DEATH OF SERGEANT-MAJOR KERR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3398, 1 March 1879, Page 4

DEATH OF SERGEANT-MAJOR KERR.

«. A very serious and melancholy accident, attended with fatal results, happened to Staff Sergt.-Ma.jor Kerr, near Temuka, on Thursday afternoon. He had hired a buggy at Nicholas 1 livery stable, Temuku, and was driving out to Winchester to superintend the firing of the Tomuka Volunteers for the district prizes when the accident occurred. Soveral people noticed that the horse was going along the main road of Temuka at an unusual pace, and swerving from side to side a? if it. had got beyond the control of the driver. On nearing a part of the road known us Wheelband's corner, it is supposed that one of tho wheels of the buggy came in contact with a large Btonc, as it was seen to bound upwards and throw the Sergcaut-Major out on the road, where he fell heavily on his head. The horse then turned the corner sharp and overturned tho buggy, breaking one of the shafts. Mr Wheelband aud two others who saw the accident ran to Mr Kerr's assistance and picked him up. They discovered that he had a bruise on the head, and was quite insensible. Dr Hayes was scut^for, aud he arrived promptly and had the unfortunate man conveyed to the Royal Hotel, where, with tho assistance of Dr Eayncr, honorary surgeon to the Temuka Volunteers, ho received every attention. The patient had sovoro concussion of the brain, and he remained insensible during the whole of the night. It was thought that there was a possibility of his regaining consciousness, but death intervened at about 5 o'clock this morning. Deceased was quite insensible from tho time of the accident till his death. The occurrence gave quite a shock to the people of Temuka. Sergeant-Major Kerr leaves a wife and eight or ten children in Chmtchureh. He had done a great deal of service in his time, having been through the Crimean war and in the Indian mutiny. He was much respected in Christrhurch and Lyttelton, and indeed in all other places where he was called upon to do duty as a Volunteer oflicer. An inquest on the body will be held afc Temuka to-day.