RAUPO FATALITY

Grey River Argus, 9 August 1937, Page 5

RAUPO FATALITY

VAN OVERTURNS Butcher Succumbs to Injuries Grave injuries, which later proved fatal, were sustained by John Masters Moore, single, aged 25 years, of Boundary Street, Greymouth, yesterday morning at Raupo, near Totara Flat, on the Greymouth-Reefton main highway, when a van which he was driving overturned. Deceased, who was employed as a butcher by Stewart and Sons, Guinness Street, left Greymouth yesterday morning in his employers’ motor delivery van, to obtain a carcase of beef from Ikamatua. He had reached a sharp bend, known as Gilmer’s corner at Raupo, about 8.30 a.m., when the van partly left the roadway. In endeavouring to bring the vehicle back on to the road again, it appears, he was pitched up against the door, which fiew open, and the van then capsized. The vehicle completed two turns to come to rest on its left side, thirty feet along the road. Moore, who was found lying where the van first capsized, wasapparently pinned between the van and the roadway when the van first overturned and when he would be partly out of it. The front portion of the lorry was extensively damaged. Accompanying deceased in the van were Messrs C. F. Lindbom, another employee of Stewart and Sons, and W. F. T. Lowe, a clerk in the Grey Power Board. Lindbom suffered slight abrasions and'a cut on the side of the face. Lowe suffered only from shock. Deceased, who was fully conscious until almost the time of his death, suffered extensive injuries to his head and pelvis, and also was internally injured severely. He suffered a great deal from loss of blood, and owing to the gravity of his injuries. it was deemed advisable not to move him. Some difficulty was experienced in obtaining medical aid, due mainly to the poor telephonic service in that district on Sundays, and it was two hours before Dr. L. J. Wicken, of Reefton, was able to reach the scene of the accident. The ambulance was despatched from Greymouth and Moore was admitted to the Grey Hospital at 11.40 a.m, and died at noon.

A native of Auckland, deceased had resided in Greymouth for the greater part of his life. During the past ten years, he had been employed by Stewart and Sons, and on his round of deliveries, he was a favourite with all, being of a genial disposition, with a quiet and unassuming nature. Deceased was for some years a member of the Greymouth Municipal Band. He also took a keen interest in photography, and had gained a knowledge of the work of a cinema projectionist, having acted as assistant in that capacity at the Regent Theatre almost since its opening. Expressing sympathy last evening with the relatives, Mr. Jack Emsworth, Manager of the Regent Theatre, remarked that the fatality had removed a promising young man. Deceased resided with his widowed mother. Mrs. O. Moore, who has been in ill health for some months past, and, deceased is also survived by one sister, Miss V. Moore (Greymouth) and two brothers, Ron and Ken Moore (also of Greymouth). An inquest will probably be held this week. The funeral will take place to-mor-row, leaving his late residence at 2 p.m. for Karoro Cemetery.