ACCIDENTS AND INQUESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 78, 27 March 1886, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND INQUESTS.

Albert Woolet, chemist, at Green Ireland, died on March 3 from an overdose of morphia. An infant of 11 months, named Ford, has been poisoned at Wanganui by eating rat poison. Alexander Mcßae, fisherman, has been accidentally drowned in the harbour at Dunedin.

A boy waa killed near Timaru, on March 16 by a gate swinging over and breaking his neck.

Mary Tobin, aged 14 years, was drowned while attempting to crosa the Arrow River, Otago, on a plank. The infant daughter of Mr Hensman, blind-maker, Wellington, was drowned in a tub on March 15.

As the result of injuries sustained by his horse falling, Mr Reginald Watters, of Kumeu, died on Tuesday, March 2. A seaman named Jas. Chyne was lost overboard on the last voyage of the barque S. R, Lahrs, from Wellington toNewcastle. A porter named Hugh Douglas fell from the Queen's Wharf, Wellington, on Saturday night, March 6, and was drowned. The Woodville—Masterton coach capsized on Saturday, March 13, causing injuries to the driver and two lady passengers. Mr Benjamin Ollerenshaw, aged 65, the leasee of Cavorsham Quarry, Otago, was killed by a slip whicbjtook place on Thursday, March 18.

Jaa. Kussell, a sub-contractor on the Otago Central Railway, was accidentally killed on Wednesday, March 3, by the explosion of a charge. At Wellsford, on March 22, Mr Frederick Dibble got several of his ribs broken and sustained other injuries by an accidental fall from horseback.

John MeNally was killed at Waipara, Canterbury, on March 18, by the bolting of a horse, a waggon attached to which went over McNally's head.

A boy aged 12 years, and named Georgo Snodgraßs.was yesterday afternoon drowned while bathing in the Maitai River, at Nelson. He was a most promising boy. A boy of five years old, son of Mr Johns, of Pukote, Waikato, was kicked in the stomach by a horse on Wednesday, March 17, and died from the effects next day. Sergeant Gillies is satisfied that the dead body recently found at Mercer, and reported to be that of a murdered European, is that of a Maori chief named Paraenn.

The body of a man named C. Schultze, who has been missing from the s.s. Kiwi, of Wellington, since February 28, was found floating in that harbour at 8.45 a.m, March 6

Richard Anderson, while working at Firth's sawmill, Waipawa, on March 15, was instantly killed by a circular saw causing a piece of timber to strike his head with great violence. An inquest held at Southbridge, Canterbury, on the body of Mrs McMillan, resulted in a verdict that death was caused from blood poisoning, brought on by the incompetency of the nurse, who attended at her confinement.

A Maori known as "Old Watson" was found drowned in Havelock harbour, Marlborough, on Saturday, March 13. It is supposed bo had a fit and fell in. Watson took an active part in the Wairau massacre on tho 17th June, 1843.

Two accidents are reported from Dunedin, Tho first resulted in the death of a young man named Wilson, who was thrown from a horse; and the other caused serious injury to a young man named Allemen, through dynamite caps exploding while he was handling them. A child, aged 11 months, named Ford, was poisoned at Wanganui on Saturday, March 20 by taking Roughen Rats. The mother, on going to bed tbe night before, placed poison in the fireplace. The child crept there before the fire was lit and picked it up The danger of using chloroform, even with all precaution, has again been exemplified. At Hawora yesterday, Florence Evangeline Mumby; wife of Riohard Mumby, died whilst under chloroform, administered to allow of four teeth being extracted. Two doctors were present, so that it is to be presumed that every care was exercised.

An alarming accident occurred at Waipu the other day, by which Mr Cartwright, draper, narrowly escaped meeting hia death. The gentleman named was .dismounting from horseback, when his horse bolted at full speed, dragging him behind by his left foot, which was caught in the stirrup. Tbe horse kicked him, but, fortunately, before be was dragged far, Mr Cartwright's boot gave way, and released him from hia dangerous position. Hia injuries are not serious. The engine-driver, John Bracewell, who fell from the train and was injured on the Ist of February, died on March 5, in the Hospital, to which he had been romoved. The unfortunate man leaves a wife and five children to mourn their loss. He is wellknown and highly reepected in Parnell, where he has resided for some time. Bracewell has beon on tbo railways for tbe last ten years. Prior to coming to this colony he lost one foot, and has also had his leg broken since he has been in New Zealand, so that the poor fellow has Buffered considerably. A coronial inquiry into the circumstances attending his death was held at the Hospital on Saturday afternoon, before Dr. Philson, District Coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr W. O Turnbull was chosen foreman. Messrs Thorne and Coleman were present on behalf of deceased's relatives. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," and added a rider, " That in our opinion the tanks are too close to the line, and immediate steps should be taken to prevent further accident."