SAD FATALITIES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 105, 15 April 1933, Page 8

SAD FATALITIES

TWO LITTLE GIRLS KILLED CHILDREN THROWN FROM PONIES SUCCUMB TO INJURIES. A sad accident which ended fatally occurred near Ngawaka Station, Central Hawke’s Bay, on Wed.esday, when the small daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Johnstone was thrown from her pony whilst on her way to school. The deceased child, Jean, aged 12 years, left in the morning for school on her pony accompanied by her young brother. A few minutes after the children had left, the latter returned home with the news that his sister was lying on the ground, and was unable to move. Mrs Johnstone hurried to the scene, and with the assistance of some neighbours brought the injured child home A doctor was summoned, but before he arrived the child was takeu to the Waipukurau Hospital, where it died on Thursday morning about 8 o’clock. It seems that the pony must have slipped and injured her in the fall. At inquest was held at the Waipukurau Hospital on Thursday afternoon before Dr. H. W. M. Kendall, district coroner. Evidence was given by the child’s mother, and younger brother, and also by the medical superintendent. A verdict was returned that, death was due to a fracture of the base of the skull, sustained accidentally through a fall from a pony the deceased was riding. The accident caused quite a gloom in the district, aud to the sorrowing parents the sympathy of a wide circle of friends is extended. Another distressing accident under circumstances somewhat similar to the above and again involving the death of a little girl aged 10 years, occurred at Waipukurau early yesterday afternoon. Galene Bouselie'd, second daughter of Mr and Mrs R. O Bousefield, was schooling her pony over some jumps at Mr A. W. Parsons’ residence in preparation for the Tikokino sports today, when the pony stumbled at one of the jumps and fell on her. The child was immediately conveyed to the public hospital, but died within half an hour of the accident. The little girl was extremely popular throughout the district and was an expert rider, having won several prizes for both riding and jumping. She was a well known figure at district sports meetings and shows, and was always a most successful competitor. The sympathy of a very wide circle of friends will be extended to the sorrowing parents and family in their distressing loss.