COLLEGE BOY'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 146, 17 December 1937, Page 10

COLLEGE BOY'S DEATH

RONGOTAI ACCIDENT

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

The circumstances 'of an accident which occurred at Rongotai on December 3 were investigated before Mr. E. Gilbsrtson, J.P., at the inquest toe 1 -.y into the death of a schoolboy, Thomas Mansell Johnstone, aged 13.

Mr. J. D. Willis appeared for the relatives of the deceased, and Mr. S. G. Stephenson appeared for the truckdriver.

Dr. Willis, house surgeon at the Wellington Public Hospital, said that death was due to laceration of the brain, associated with a fracture of the base of the skull. Johnstone was unconscious when admitted, and he died at 8.10 p.m.

Harold Earl Winstanley said that at about 2.45 p.m. on December 3 he was driving his truck in a north-westerly direction along Coutts Street, travelling at 15 to 20 m.p.h. Just prior to thj he had been, travelling at about 25 i...p.h. in order to pass a tramcar. He slackened speed because a number of college boys were standing at the tramstop, some on the footpath and some on the roadway. They were all looking in his direction, and he passed the group about five or six feet out from th. korb. He was about 15 feet past the boys when he heard them call out. He pulled up and saw the deceased lying on the road. He did not hear a sound of impact or feel a jar.

Questioned by the Coroner the witness said he was unable to estimate how far behind him the tram was when the accident occurreu.

Arthur Harold. Hooper, driver of a c. following the lorry said he saw Johnstone run out from the footpath and run into the truck. He appeared to try to stop just before he hit the truck. The tram was 20 or 30 yards behind the truck when the accident occurred. Evidence was given by the driver of the tram. BOYS WARNED. "All the boys of the college have been earnestly and repeatedly warned as to the danger which confronted them in boarding or alighting from tramcars," said Mr. F. M. Renner, principal of Rongotai College, "not only in front of the school, but on all occasions elsewhere. Although the stop opposite the school is a compulsory one motormen sometimes do not'regard this as such, but merely slow down instead of stopping completely. This very often is responsible for the boys' over-eagerness in getting aboard."

■Frederick Granville Barker, a pupil at the school, said he saw a truck accelerate and pass; the tram, and all the boys stepped back to allow it to pass. The deceased had his back to the approaching lorry, and was joking with several other boys. He failed to draw back as the lorry approached. The cricket pads he was carrying struck the lorry about half-way along the body of the truck, which also struck him. The truck was definitely clear of the. tram, and was comfortably clear of the kerb.

Questioned by Mr. Gilbertson, witness said: "He did not run towards the truck; he was jumping about." The Coroner: Jumping about—moving? Witness: Yes. Mr. Willis: There was plenty of room for the lorry-driver to swerve? Witness: Yes. Questioned by Mr. Stephenson, witness reaffirmed that the deceased was jumping around, but he never moved further out. George Rae, another schoolboy, also described what he saw of the accident. .Mr. Willis: Did you see the deceased make any step, or run, or dive forward? ■ Witness: I did not. The Coroner: You are quite certain of that? - ■ Witness: Yes. Questioned by, Mr. Stephenson, witness said he did not see the 'deceased just as the accident happened. "The evidence as to whether or not the boy ran into the truck is conflicting, but I am certain that there is the matter' of carelessness to be considered. The boys do not take, proper care, and this lad was not looking as he should have been," said Mr. Gilbertson. . , . A verdict was returned that the deceased died from injuries sustained by colliding with a motor-truck, driven by Harold Earl Winstanley. At the conclusion of 'the inquest one of the witnesses, Mr.- Hooper, said he would like-to! see some arrangement on the college gate to prevent boys from riding out of the gate on cycles without proper care. A gate which had to be opened by hand would be advisable. ' ; '-~,.. i "Boys will be boys;" said Mr. Gilbertson. "They will take chances. Nothing you can, do will stop them."

Bureau of Importers should take the stand that it is our wish that it is mainly-imports-from the United Kingdom that should be .attacked. We would point out that there are millions of pounds worth of foreign goods imported annually that could be manufactured in New Zealand."