CURIOUS ACCIDENT AT THIS BARRIER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 291, 8 December 1893, Page 3

CURIOUS ACCIDENT AT THIS BARRIER.

A GUMDIGGER SERIOUSLY INJURED.

News of a very painful accident reaches us from the Greab Barrier today. The victim is a man named John Leary, a gumdigger, resident at a place known as White Cliffs, on bhe Island. On December Ist, Leary, who is a heavily built man about 60 years of age, was sitting in his hut on a small stool, when he had occasion to lean forward to get some article. In doing so he inadvertently pulled over his seat, which was placed somewhat insecurely on a sheopskin mat. On attempting to resume his sitting posture, being under the impression thab the stool was in its original position, the unfortunate man descended with all his weight on the leg of the stool, and inflicted upon himself an injury of a most serious and painful character. The infrequency of communication between the island and Auckland, and the absence of any medical man, entailed on the poor man five days of suffering. Dropsy set in soon after he received the hurt, and there being no com petent person to attend him, he is in a precarious condition. The settlers intended to send him to the Auckland Hospital by the mail steamer, which arrives to-day. The accident has impressed on bhe settlers the greab need there is for a resident medical man on the island, and they express themselves willing to contribute towards the support of a doctor if the Government would also aid.