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Evening Star, Issue 16625, 7 January 1918, Page 5

A serious accident occurred at the South road railway creasing at Hawera on Friday afternoon, -whan a motor car driven by Captain M'Diarmid, N.Z.M.C, Featherston, and formerly of New Plymouth, collided with an outgoing train to Wanganui. Mrs MacDiarmid, mother of Captain MacDiarmid, was abo in the car. The cowcatcher struck the car in the centre and carried it along the line for a distance of 30 or 40 yards and threw it* occupants on to the bank. Mrs MaeDirmaid was rendered unconscious. There were no bones broken, Bnt she was badly bruised. Captain MaoDiarsnid escaped unhurt. When the driver of the train observed the car he prmaptly applied the brakes and_ did everything possible to avoid the collision. _lt seems that Captain MacDiarmid did not see the train approaching until with a few yards of tho crossing, which is a had one." The car was smashed almost beyond recognition. A P.A. message from I&tham states that the body of a well-known resident (Mr J. B. Sim) was found this morning in the Waingongora River. The body had underpants on, out the remainder of the deceased's clothes -were hanging in a shed close by. The body was lying face downwards in only iuna inches of water. It is surmised that the deceased had a fit. Ho was well known in Christchurch, and was at one time Mayor of Sydenham. He had been some lime at Elthaim and until recently was "secretary of the Eltham branch of the Farmers' -Union. He leaves a wife and grown-up family) one son being in the Imperial Army. Gordon Mahaa, aged ni»;6 years, was drowned in the Lower Styx River. He was camping with two other boys near the mouth of tfe« river. He slipped into a deep hole.—O'hristchurch telegram.