MOTORCAR OVERTURNS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 252, 21 July 1936, Page 11

MOTORCAR OVERTURNS

Well-known Maori Farmer Killed DAZZLED BY LIGHTS By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, July 20. Pinned beneath a motor-car which left the road and overturned near Ruatoria, a well-known Native sheep farmer, Waitene Waititi, of Te Araroa, was fatally injured on Saturday evening. Waititi, who was driving to Te Puia, was accompanied by R. Thomas, of Ruatoria, and another Native named Tamaere. Thomas was in the dickey seat, and was thrown clear when the car left the road. He extricated Tamaere, but Waititi could not be released until help arrived, and it was then found that he was dead.

It is stated that the accident was due to the driver being dazzled by the headlights of an approaching car.

HAMILTON MYSTERY Broken Glass and Blood on Road By Telegraph—Presp Association Hamilton, July 20.

Mystery surrounds a crash into a telegraph pole at the corner of Victoria and Knox Streets early this morning. The only trace of the car was a pile of broken glass on the road, and possibly an occupant of the car was severely injured, as a considerable quantity of blood was, found nearby. Owing to the fusing of wires thirty telephone subscribers were disconnected. The police are investigating.

HURLED OVER HUKA FALLS

Man Loses Grip of Rock VAIN SEARCH FOR BODY By Telegraph—Press Association Rotorua, July 20. .Swept from a rocky ledge while endeavouring to fill a kerosene tin with water, Arthur Hodgson, of Rotorua, aged about 28, a married man with two children, is believed to have lost his life after being carried over the famous Huka Falls near Taupo on Saturday. Although there were no eye-witnesses of the actual happening, it is understood that Hodgson attempted to fill the tin from the fast-running waters about 200 yards above the fall by kneeling on a iedge about a foot above, the level of the rapids, and that the force of the current caused him to lose his grip.

Hodgson was employed on a contract for the erection of a new power-house to supply electricity to the Wairakei Hofei. The foreman of the ■work, Mr. W. Cunningham, and another employee, Mr. T. Leonard, when crossing the bridge a moment after the tragedy, saw the unfortunate man struggling to reach the bank, but his efforts were unsuccessful and he was swept over the main fall, the two men being powerless to assist. An extensive search was immediately commenced. The Taupo and Rotorua police assisted a number of men, but although Hodgson’s hat and coat were found two miles below the fall no trace of the body had been seen up to early this morning.,