DANGEROUSLY INJURED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 64, 27 December 1935, Page 6

DANGEROUSLY INJURED

TWO YOUNG MEN IN HOSPITAL. MOTOR-VAN AND CAR COLLIDE. ONE VICTIM IN GRAVEL PIT. Serious injuries were received by two young Ashburton men as a result of a motor collision on the Alain South Road, near the Windermere railway crossing, at 2.30 this morning. The victims of the accident were:— Mr R. Clucas, of 17 Cross Street, Allenton, who received concussion, laceration of the skull and a compound fracture of the right forearm. Mr A. Sim, son of Mr T. AIcG. Sim, baker, of Hinds, who is suffering from severe concussion, a fractured base of the skull and extensive laceration of the skull, right hand and forearm. Both men were taken in the ambulance to the Ashburton Public Hospital, where they are on the dangerously ill list. Air Clucas was found at the scene of the accident, but Air Sim strayed away and was not found until dawn, unconscious in a gravel pit some distance away. A passenger in Air Clucas’s car, Air L. G. Alillichamp, was picked up on the road at 4 a.m., dazed, but otherwise unhurt. • Air Clucas was driving a car and Air Sim a delivery van. Both vehicles were extensively damaged. They appear to have struck on the front, toward the right hand. MAN DIES OF INJURIES. WIFE PREVIOUSLY SUCCUMBED. THAMES, This Day. Air Arthur Keasley, a farmer, of Kerepehi, whose wife was killed in a collision between a motor-cycle and a lorry at Kerepehi, Hauraki Plains, on Monday, and wherwas sent to hospital suffering from a fracture of the spine and skull, died. 1

MOUNTAINEER DROWNED. SLIP IN THE RAKAIA RIVER. CHRISTCHURCH, December 26. Losing his balance while fording the Rakaia River at its headwaters yesterday afternoon, Mr Alaxwell Keith Townsend, aged about 24, a well-known Canterbury mountaineer and tramper, was swept away and drowned. Usually the fording of the Rakaia at this point presents little difficulty, but yesterday it was in slight flood and apparently when Air Townsend lost his balance he was unable to free himself of his heavy pack, nor could his two companions on the trip reach him to assist. Mr Townsend, with two members of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club — Alessrs W. B. Cullens and G. C. T. Burns —left Christchurch by motor-car yesterday morning, accompanied by a. party of Wellington climbers, for the head of the Rakaia River. The three Canterbury men intended to climb at the head of Cattle Creek, a tributary of the Rakaia. Leaving, Glenfalloch Station, it was necessary to ford the Rakaia to reach Cattle Creek. Air Townsend had for some years been a very active member of the Canterbury Alountaineering Club and for some time had been organiser of the club’s monthly expeditions. Last Christmas, with Air G. C. T. Burns, he made a trip from Arthur’s Pass to the Hermitage by way of the headwaters of the Canterbury rivers and high alpine passes. There were few parts of the Canterbury and Westland ranges which he had not explored. Air Townsend was a single man, residing, with his mother in Packe Street, St. Albans, and was employed on the accountancy side of the Public Trust office. MARRIED MAN FOUND DEAD. BLENHEIM, December 26. John Low, aged 40, a married man, employed at the Rossmore station, Upper Awatere, was found dead with his throat cut yesterday, in circumstances indicating suicide. DROWNING IN HUTT RIVER. WELLINGTON, December 26. When swimming in the Hutt River at Silverstream about 5.45 this afternoon, Air William Hillock, a plumber, of Wellington, aged about 50, was drowned before a number of picnickers. Afr Hillock was a strongly-built man and a powerful swimmer, and his sudden drowning is believed to be due to heart seizure Air Hillock and his family were spending the day at Silverstream. Late in the afternoon he entered the water for a swim and when in about 11 feet of water suddenly disappeared A Wellington resident, Air Glen Jones, noticed Air Hillock’s plight, and immediately went to his rescue. He succeeded in bringing Air Hillock to the surface and in getting him to the bank. A constable arrived on the scene just as Air Hillock was dragged on to the bank, and worked on him with restorative methods for more than 20 minutes without avail. Air Hillock was one of the “Old Contemptibles,’’ and fought with a Welsh regiment during the Great War. STARTER DIES AT TROTS. WESTPORT, December 2G. The Westport Trotting Club’s meeting was marred by the death of Mr Frank Roche, the starter, who collapsed and died as he was descending from his post at the conclusion of the sixth race. He was prominent in racing and municipal circles being a former owner and rider and borough councillor. He is survived by two sons—W. 11. and J. Roche, who were driving at the meeting—and one daughter.