ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9594, 8 December 1896, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

(FBSSS AS3OCIATION TBUtejIAMS.) DUNEDIN, Deoomber 7. William Hall, a minor, waa found dead in his house at Clyde. Francis R. Dawaon, six years, was drowned at Lawrence to-day. GISBORNE, December 7. A portly demented Maori woraaa, named Akeniha Keatiug, wife of a European, meb with a horrible death at North Gisborue. Hor husband said he gave her her dinner on Saturday afternoon. He had to feed her, as she was helpless, and when sho sat or lay down he had to lift hor up again. She had been in that state for the past two years, but bad been worse for the past month. He then left for Gisborne, and on returning home at five o'clock, missed her. Hβ looked around, and seeing smoke in the orchard, rushed'down there and found hor lying on her back and the grass on tiro all round her. Sho was dead, lying in a dry trench a few inches deep. The grass waa long aud dry and would burn very quickly; bub he could not account for it taking fire. He supposed she was smoking and threw a lighted match into the grass. She was in the habit of smoking, and wa? frequently in the orchard. Sho was about sixty-five years of age. A neighbour gavt ovidence that the grass , was on fire for ao acre round her. Deceased waa dreadfully burned on the left side and both arms, anu her hair was burned off her head. Hoi - arms and legs were extended up both sides of the trench as if she had fallen from n distance into the trench in that attitude. The woman's mouth and nose wore covered with blood. The clothing had wt hoen burned bolow the waist. The voi-.ut was " Accidental death by burning." Wight or ten years ago the deceased's mother was burned ! to death within a few yards of the same spot by hor whare catching tire.