TEN MINOR ACCIDENTS ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29402, 3 January 1961, Page 8

TEN MINOR ACCIDENTS ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

With thousands of persons travelling into the city at a late hour on New Year’s Eve, augmented by large crowds from dances and late theatre sessions who arrived shortly before midnight, the St John Ambulance Brigade and Christchurch Hospital experienced a hectic few hours in which 10 accidents were attended to in various parts of Christchurch. A police officer described the New Year crowds which gathered in the city as probably the quietest for several years. Police patrols were strengthened in the inner city area. The only incidents occurred when a police patrol car was surrounded by a crowd of jeering youths in the north-west corner of Cathedral square. A youth was arrested after he had let down one of the tyres of a police car. A person suffered a cut hand, which required hospital treatment, outside the Chief Post Office at 12.10 a.m., at the height of the New Year celebrations. The main crowd did not start moving into Cathdral square until after 11 p.m., but from this stage many hundreds of cars made their way into the city. Traffic could hardly move in the Square at the height of the New Year celebra-

tions. The city was still busy until long after midnight. Four policemen travelled on the special New Year’s Eve excursion to Timaru. but no incidents were reported. Many Accidents Treated Miss N. L. Clinton, of 22 Evelyn Couzins avenue, was admitted 'to the Christchurch Hospital with shoulder injuries suffered when she fell from her cycle tn River road at 7.42 pun. on December 31. She was discharged from hospital yesterday.

Frank McPhail, of 123 Waimea terrace. Beckenham, suffered a cut hand in Cathedral square, outside the Chief Post Office, at 12.10 a.m. on New Year’s Day. He w ’ as . u discharged after treatment at the Christchurch Hospital An hour later the St. John Ambulance was called to Wainoni road, where Mr Gordon Stewart, of 65 Studholme street Somerfleld. had collapsed. He was admitted to tire Christchurch Hospital where hss condition was described last evening as satisfactory.

Mr Sidney I. McMillan. of 9 Walpole street, Waitham, was also taken to Christchurch Hospital collapsing at the intersection of Walpole and Thackeray streets at 2.50 a.m. He also suffered an injury to his back when he fell to the ground, His condition was described last evening as quite satisfactory.

i At 1.45 a.m. the St. John Ambulance was called to a motor accident in which a youth, riding a power cycle, was involved in a collision with a taxi in Jollie street. The youth, Russell Nolan. °£ 4 .® f f 3 y street. Linwood, was admitted to the Christchurch Hasp Hal with abrasions to the hands and face. His condition last evening was satisfactory. Mr G. A. Milne, whose address was given as care of the Kairaki Beach Post Office, was admitted to hospital with head injuries suffered when the car in which he was travelling and another car collided near the Island tearooms. Kairaki Beach road. His condition yesterday was satisfactory. When the car in which he was travelling hit a pole in Blenheim road, north of the roundabout, at 3.35 a.m., Ronald Baker, whose address is the Culverden Hotel suffered face and leg injuries. He was taken to the Christchurch Hospital, where his condition last evening was described as comfortable.

. Three other persons were Inlured in accidents on New Year’s Eve or early on New Year's morning, but no information is available on the accidents in which they were involved. Thev are IVan Russell Clark, who suffered head injuries on New Year’s Eve and was admitted to Christchurch Hospital. He was later discharged Also admitted to hospital but later sent home was Pat O’Brien, who suffered head injuries in an accident early on New Year's morning. The third person. Jack Fraser, suffered back injuries in an accident. He was admitted to the Christchurch Hospital where his condition was described vesterday as satisfactory, and improvmg.