ACCIDENTS AND INQUESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 21, 29 January 1887, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND INQUESTS.

A boy of 11 yeare, named Carson, was drowned on Sunday, 16th mat, while bathing at Oamaru, Mr John Robortson, of tho Phoenix Foundry, Wellington, has died from getting his arm Crushed by the machinery.

A child named Lamplough, aged five, waa crushed to death at Addison's, near Westp'ort, by tho wheel of a dray passing over her.

On 4th instant, Ethel Mary Doge, 13 months old, tho daughter of a farmer at Shand's Track, Canterbury, died from scalds received through accidentally falling intoa bucket of hot water on Monday.

Two boya have been drowned in the Wanganui River. Wm. Turney, aged 12 year?, was drowned while bathing near the Rapids on Saturday, January 1, and two days afterwards tho body of another boy was found opposite the town, A dead body was found under the- cliff noar St. Mary*, Ponsonby, on January 4, and word having boen sent to the water police, they had it conveyed to the morgue. There the body was identified as that of Richard Rich, cook of the schooner Torea, who was drowned on New Year's Eve. A serious accident ocenrreJ at tho Maori Race Meetjug hold at Paeroa on 15th inst. Immediately after the starting of the pony raca, a boy rode acros3 the course in front of the csmpotitors. A collision ensued, and three ponies Came to grief. One was killed en tho spot, and its rider, a youth named Moore, was thrown to tho ground with such violence that ho only recovered consciousness after about 20 years. On Wednesday, sth inst , eomo lads were playing cricket iv a paddock at Kewmarl et when a horse canie near to tho wickets. One of the boys, named Briorley, ran towards the hcrso to drive it away, when it lot out and Vickod him on the head. ITis companions went for assistance, and Broirly was as quickly as possible removed to the District Hospital. Ho was found to havo sustained an extensive fracture of the skull, from which he died a few days afterwards. & girl named Je"-sio Banner, living near Stratford, Hawora, died under very peculiar circumstances on Sunday, January 2& Sho was about nine years of age, and was living with her undo, who sent her on an on and to a neighbour's. Thinking she wih n. long timo away, ho went to £03 where slio toj, and discovered her qaite dead, with hor neck under tho window ea-'h. Tho people to whoso houso she was Eont were away ut church, and tho supposition is that she was getting in or out of tho window when the sash ccmo down A sad accident: happened on Sunday, 16th inst , to a young man named Ralph Bewe, who was in the employ of Mr Melville, farmer, at Mangore. The drceased and a Mr Wills, with another went down to tbo watera of the Manukau to on joy a bath aftor the warm labours of tbe day. Bew3, who could not swim, got out of hia depth, and despite tho efforts of hia two companions, pank, and disappeared. After a search ot some hour and a half tho body of the unfortunate youth was found, life of couree being extinct. A fatal accident took place just boforo 11 a.m. on Monday, January 24 at Hayraun's bulk store, Lambton quay, Wellington. Tho lift was cent up with a light load, and upon reaching the second floor the chain broke. In the lift wore a boy and a man named William Kitchen. The former escaped with a fow bruises, but tho latter wa3 horribly mangled, and diod instantly. Both hia thighs were broker, hia stomach torn open, and bo had a ghastly wound on the head.

A very sudden doath took placo on 21st inst. at Arch Hill. A labourer named Patrick Doolan, who has been stone-break-ing at Mount Albert for eomo time past, returnod from his woik yesterday at five o'clock. Ho took hi 3 tea all right, and af torwards went outside and tat in tha doorway, faying that ho wished to cool himself. Ho had not thon mado any complaint about feeling Unwell. While sitting en the step ho was attacked with a violent fit of coughing, followed by a rush of blood, which showed that ho rau3t havo burst a blood vessel in tho lungs. Immediately Doolan foil forward and bled profuselyj He was quickly taken inside and laid on his bed, and a messenger was immediately despatched for Dr. Purchaß, who was quickly in attendance, bub the unfortunate man expired before ho arrived.

A most distressing accident is reported from Puni, or West Mauku. It appears that a settler named Jones was engaged clearing bush on his farm, and about a quarter of a mile away from hia houso he was digging out a rata tree. This system ia sometimes adoptod in proforonce to cutting down tbe tree, as the top holps to layer out tho root. Jones had boen home for his dinner, and returned to work, leaving his wife and family in the hou»o. Apparently, his littlo son Albert, who was fivo yoara old, must have-followed his fathor to his work, for during the afternoon the tree fell, and upon the father walking along the holo of tho tree, ho discovered some blood. A closer examination disclosed to tho unfortunato man that his son had been crushed to death by tho falling troe. Death must have been instantaneous, as Mr Jones heard no cry.

The three masted schooner Yolande arrived from Newcastle shortly before five p m on 7th met ,and proceeded to tho Sugar Company '& wharf at Birkenhead to dischargo hor cargo of coal. The Yolando has made an unusually long pi?eago, and has ex perienced some very hoivy weather. Oae pale unfortunately, resulted in tho loss of throe of her seamen. Captain Watt, master of the Yolanclo, reports of the voyage as follows :-Sailed from Newcastle on the 10th ult, with light southerly winds, which lasted about 12 hours, and then hauled into tho SB and E. until Lord Howe's leland was parsed, on the 14th ; ■the wind then came from the eastward, with cloudy, gloomy, and overcast sky This lasted until the 16th, when the wind backed into the E.S.E., and increaeed to a fresh breeze. On the 17th the wind was still increasing, with a heavy, confused eea, and i ho weather was euch that it was found necessary to take in canvas and make the veFsel snug, in readiness for heavier weather. At 8 p m. the order was given to stow tbe jib, which had just before burst, and three •eatnon. Mat.thow Sweeney, John Hanna-ford,«.T»i''lia-le» i'/n^alke,proceededtonarry out the order. At this time it was dark, the vessel being under roefed canvas, with upper topsail stowed. Suddenly a faint cry was heard off the starboard quarter. Ropes wero thrown in the direction iudicated, and tho helm was ordered hard down, but the ship refused to stay. Owing to thedarknoss nothing could be seen over a ship's length away ; aod although every attention was paid, nothing more than tho ono faint cry Was heard. It is supposed that tho vessel passed ovor the unfortunato men, and that they woredrownod almost immediately. The galo increased during the night named, and lasted with groat violence for threo daye, with a very heavy sea ; thonca sho had light winds and moderate weatbor up to making the North Capo! thenco ireeh B. to E S.B. winda aiong tho coast Up1 to arrival.

Shortly aftor 9 pm. on 9th inst., an explosion of gas took place in the Bank of New South Wales. Tho circumstances of the case are as follows: —Mr S. N. Yon Stunner, the ledger-keeper of the Bank, resides on the premises. Yesterday evening ho had been out for a walk and returned about 9 o'clock, in company with hia cousin, Mr W. Yon Stunner. Thoy entered the bank by the private door at the side. Immediately upon entering the building they noticed a Etrong smoll of gas, which evidently came from the direction of the strongroom, which opejis oh the corridor leading to the banking chamber. Mr S. W. Yon Stunner procured the key and uclocked the door of tho strong room. He then obtained r. light to ascertain the whfieabouta of tho leak. As ufual In cue? where gas iv concerned, the naked ligbt proved a raobt effectual means of detection, but the results were vory danger* owi to tho parties concerned. On ontoring tho strong room, a3 might bs expected, tho candle fired the gas, and an explosion occurred. Both gentlemen were severely singed nbout the neck and hands, and also slightly on the face. Fortunately, nono of the injuries wore of a serious nature. Aa an evidence of the force of the explosior it may be stated that the shock extended through a number of passages on the ground floor, and then found vent by rising to the third story, and shattered the skylight over the main staircase. Hera its power wa^ evidently expended, as the roof-light just above the skylight was not damaged. Tbe only other injury -a the bauk to? fclio partial ignition oi a quantity of papers in the strong-room Tlie noise of the explosion was heard by passersby in the street, and also in the adjoining premises. Evidently the gas jot must have been loft turned on, and had been wasting a sufficient length of time to fill the chambers. Messrs Yon. Stunner have since been in the Hospital, but are makirjg fair rejovery from their injuries.