CROSSING TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 38, 15 February 1937, Page 9

CROSSING TRAGEDY.

MAN DIES FROM INJURIES. A PROMINENT ORCHARDIST. (By Teleuraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. Mr. Wm. Lucas Heather, the victoni of the level crossing accident at Kensington Avenue on Friday morning, died in the Whangarei Hospital ut 11.30 a.m. yesterday. At the time of the accident, he was driving a half-ton delivery truck, loaded with apples, when it waa caught on the crossing by the downward express from the north, and completely wrecked. His did not regain consciousness. Mns. Heather was visiting friends at Gisborne, preparatory to sailing to England to attend the Coronation, when she was informed of the tragic accident. She left Gisborne at five o'clock on Saturday morning, and arrived in Auckland in time to connect with the night train for Whangarei. She was met at Maungaturoto station by her brother, Mr. J. 8. Day, of Whangarei, and taken the rest of the way by car, arriving at the hospital at 10 p.m. The late Mr. Heather was born in Buckinghamshire, England, 50 years ugo. At the age of 25 he accompanied his brother Ernest to New Zealand, and gained experience of fruit fawning at Hastings prior to coming to Whangarei. The men established a fine apple orchard at Otaika. At the outbreak of the wp.r deceased took over the management of the orchard, which is to-day one of the largest and best-known in the North. Mr. Heather was keenly interested in church work, and was one of the foundation members of the Whangarei Congregational Church. He was an executive member at the time of his death. In July, 11)36, he married Miss Day, a daughter of the late Rev. Win. Day, a one-time Presbyterian minister at Whangarei. There are two brothers resident in England. Other members of the family are: Mr. Bernard Heather, a school teacher at Otahuhu; Mr. Ernest Heather, wireless operator on Mie Marama; Mrs. D. Nightingale, who is in England; and Miss Marjorie Heather, of Birkdale. INQUEST OPENED. The inquest was opened this looming before .Mr. (i. H. MorrUb. district coroner. Evidence of identification wax given by John Spencer Day, solicitor, of Whangarei, who said that deceased w.ts in good health, his eyesight was goo 1. and he was a particularly warcful driver. He was a man of strictly sober habits. In the opinion of Dr. E. T. Dawson, assistant medical superintendent, at the Whangarei Hospital, deatli Mas due fo severe cerebral lacerations and fracture of the base of the skull. The inquest was adjourned sine die.