SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17655, 6 January 1923, Page 3

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TEMUKA. A distressing fatality occurred at Temuka yesterday afternoon, when Peter Coira, the 18-months-old son of Mr (3. A. Coira, of Christchurch, was drowned in the water-race in the main street at the entrance to the house, of his grandfather, Mr R. B. Comer. The child, who was missed for two minutes only before a search was commenced, evidently walked into the. race and was carried by the strong current under the culvert. Every effort to resuscitate the child was made by Mrs Coira and Mr Comer, and by Dr. Scannell, who quickly arrived at the scene oftha accident, but without avail. Widespread sympathy is felt for the parents whose families have long been resident in the district. A returned soldier, William Jackson, late of the N.Z.. Rifle Brigade, died at Timaru Hospital on Wednesday, and was buried at the Temuka Genietery yesterday, the Rev. A. H. Norris, chaplain to the Forces, reading the burial service. The pall-bearers were four members of the Returned Soldies' Association. The deceased has been in poor health since his return from war service, and his last illness may be traced to the effects of his casualty at the front through being gassed. He leaves a widow and one infant daughter.

Among the many things that make the "world kin is a thunderstorm. When lightning flashes and thunder rends the skies, and a deluge descends, men and women run together for shelter, and for company also, for it is at such an awe-inspiring time that they realise their iittJeness and the might of angry Nature (says the Auckland "Herald" apropos of a sudden and devastating change of the weather in the north one day last week). A very large crowd of people at the trotting races was caught in the fierce storm which swept over from the west. Those 011 the "outside" were in a sorry plight owing to the grave lack of shelter. The refreshment tents and booths gave refuge for some, but for many there was nothing but the lee sides of buildings and fences—but sjtch a storm does not admit of these zones having any magnitude. The women and girl's who had been sporting finely without carrying '"aincoats, were soon woefully bedraggled and forlorn. Filmy raiment became clinging rags within a few minutes. There were no Sir Walter Raleighs among the coated males,„ but one invited a trembling maiden to .share his coat. This she gladly did, and whether from a desire to evade the drenching rain or from fear of the thundering heavens, she snuggled close, and, for a time, two hearts beat as one