ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Evening Star, Issue 9582, 31 December 1894, Page 2

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

A boy named John Bell was drowned in a creek near Te Awamutu while bathing on Saturday. By a yachting accident at Matakana an old settler named Thomas Bell was drowned. He leaves a wife and five children. His mate, Josiah Harris, swam ashore when the yacht capsized. Daniel Mufphyj who Wad killed by the 'traction engine accident in Weka Pass, was about twenty years of age, and came from Melbourne. He was a shearer, The engine was damaged to the extent of» about £IOO. The immediate cause of it running up the bank was the snapping of the chain of the steering gear. Had the chain broken on the opposite side to which it did the engine and its load would have plunged into the bed of the Weka Creek, nearly 150 ft below, and little short of a miracle could have saved any of the men from death. A Greymouth boating accident brought out great bravery and presence of mind in a young fellow named Stewart, belonging to Coal Creek Flat. While a party of three were sailing on Lake Brunner the boat upset. The lad dived underneath, cut away all the rigging, righted the frail craft, and helped the others. Finding three too many for the boat, owing to rough water, Stewart took a lifebelt and swam towards the shore, three-quarters of a mile away, for help. He met the steamer on the way, and the boat and Occupants were towed to land. A son of Mr W. Currie, farmer, of Hyde, was accidentally drowned in the Taieri River yesterday. He was nine years of age. NAPIER, December 31. A young married man named William Finlayson was seriously injured at the Bluff on Saturday afternoon. He was endeavoring to jamb a wheel with a block of wood when "the truck to which he was clingingcollided with the sling, which swung round and struck him on the head. Finlayson was taken to the hospital, where he lies in a precarious condition. AUCKLAND, December 31. A young man named James Dunn was fatally wounded on Saturday at Coromandel. Four members of the Rifle Club were practising ball firing. Boswcll had the gun full cock, just ready to fire, when Dunn asked him for a cartridge. Boswell turned to give the cartridge, holding the riSe in his left hand. The charge exploded, the ball striking Dunn on the right side. He died in the hospital two hours later.