THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT WAIKAWAU.-INQUEST.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3750, 26 July 1869, Page 4

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT WAI-KAWAU.-INQUEST.

an accident took place at the Shorfcland Hotel, on Friday, upon the body of John JSwifct, who, whs killed at Waikawau hy the falling of a tree. Major Keddtill was Hie coioner. Edward Berry, deposed : On luoeday evening last, after Sundown, the deceased and myself were in the Waikawau bush filing timber. Deoeased was felling a tree witb an axe. The tree wag looked in the branches of a« adjoining tree. It would not full until he had chopped it off the stump. Deceased chopped the tree <ff the stump. He gave one atep to geb out; of the road. 'Iho limb that was locked in the other tree uave way, fell from a height of between fifty and sixty feet, nnd dropped ou to the top of deceased* head. He fell with his face on the ground. Iran and picked him up, He was senseless, and did not speak for twenty minutes. I got a billy of water and bathed hig temples and breast. 1 held him up to get the ai>, when the blood poured from bis mouth, and continued so till about ten o'olook next day. Deceased sj oke but a f»w word", praying that •Ottielb.'ng v/ould fall upon him and put him out of pftia ufe once, On Wednesday morning, wo got six raoie men, and carried him to the beach. We got to the mill about three o'clock, and took deceased m a boat to Hastings, to a doctor. Tho dootor w*a not at home, »nd deoeased died bi'fojo he oame. about six o'olook,— The jury returned a Yerdiot of accidental death, — Advertiser, July 24,