ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10106, 3 August 1893, Page 3

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

[Per Press Association.] GISBORNE, August 2. _ The body of .Tobb, drowned in the Waimata river on July 15, has not yet been found, though a diligent search has been made and a large reward offered. AUCKLAND, August 2. William Ricketts, of Eangiaohio, Waikato, was found dead on the road-side, close to hia home. He was in the township in good health and spirits, and left on horseback for hia home in the afternoon. His horse was found tied to a farm gate, and the body of Ricketts in the fern close by. INQUEST AT WAIKAEL An inquest was held at tho Star and Garter Hotel, Waitari, on Monday evening by Mr H. W. Bishop, Coroner, touching the death of Andrew Spillard. Mr J. G. S. Tdnkia was foreman of the Jury. Mrs M’Gowan, landlady of the Star and Garter Hotel, stated that deceased esmo to her place on July 4 and paid for a fortnight's board and lodging in advance. Ho loft on the morning of July 13 and said that she was not to be alarmed if ho did not return that evening. Ho said ho was going in search of certain stores. Ashe did not return Witness reported him as missing to Constable Johnston. Henry Wagstaff, who woiko for Mr W. H, Burton, Hurunm, stated that ha met deceased at halt-past five on July 16, and directed him to the Hurunui Hotel. Witness asked him to stop with him for the night bub he said he proposed to go to tho hotel. Deceased told him that ha lost his way tho previous night and had slept on the hills. Burton H. Spillacd, second son of deceased, who resides at St Andrews, stated that when he heard that his father waa missing he went to Waikari, reaching there on July 29. On the following day ho went with Constable Johnston down the Hurunui river-bed and there found the body of his father on a small spit in sis inches of water. Witness was of opinion that the deceased had fallen in trying to ascend a cliff, and, being stunned by the fall, bad been suffocated in the water, the body being afterwards carried down stream. Deceased’s age was seventyseven, but he was a hearty, active man.Tho Jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned.”

A serious accident occurred at Geraldine on Wednesday morning to Mr Arthur Cor, auctioneer. In company with another gentleman be was driving from Temuka to Geraldine in order to attend the fortnightly sale, and when near Barclay’s corner the horse plunged and throw the occupants out of the rxap. The accident waa observed from »> distance, and help was obtained from Geraldine, and both were taken to Mr M’Kenzie’s residence. Dr Fish was jn attendance as quickly as possible, and found, on examination, that Mr Cox had received a ecvere injury, the skull being fractured. He advised Mr Cox’s immediate removal to Temuka, where ha was taken. According to the last account received in Geraldine yesterday afternoon, it is a very serious ease.

A child named Cyril Alexander, aged twelve months, son of Mr Thomas Alexander, of Madras street, died suddenly at its parents’ residence about six o’clock on Tuesday evening. The child had been suffering from an attack of measles. Dr Jennings was called in but the child died before hie arrival. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the Foresters Hotel, and the Jury, after bearing the evidence of the mother, returned a verdict that death had resulted from congestion of the lungs. Early on Tuesday morning a child named Grace Patterson, aged twelve months, died suddenly at its parents’ reside ace. Edgeware road, St Albans. The child had been Buffering from an attack of measles for about eight days. An inquest was held at the Caledonian Hotel on Tuesday evening before Mr E, Beetbam, coroner, aud a jury of which Mr A. Chidgey was chosen foreman. Dr Meares, who had made a post-mortem examination of the body, slated that the child had died from congestion of tho lungs. He disapproved of the mother’s treatment in steaming the child’s throat with hob water and eucalyptus oil. Under the circumstances, he considered this treatment was very injudicious. The jury relumed a verdict that the child had died from congestion of the lungs. Tho man Cornelius Murphy, who was admitted to the Hospital on Tuesday, having been brought down from tho Cheviot workings suffering from a broken leg, is now progressing favourably. The injury was a simple fracture only, and not dangerous. The cause of the accident, it appears, was the falling of a couple of barrow-loads of earth while the man was working on the Bluff road cutting. Murphy has the name of being one of the best workers on Cheviot. Another workman named Crew was hurt oa Tuesday while walking underneath the Big Bluff—a spot forbidden by the overseer on account of the danger of falling debris from tho cutting above. Crew was struck on the bead by a atone, but escaped serious injury. He will be about again in a week or so. Mr Marchant is sending to the works stretchers and appliances for use in the event of any of tho men sustaining minor injuries, which, while laying them up, are not serious enough to demand hospital treatment.