ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVIII, Issue 11463, 29 December 1897, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

[Per* Press Association.) WANGANUI, Dec. 2S.

Two little girls, aged about seven-years, a half-caste and a Maori, were drowned -on Christmas Day, in the river, half a mile from the town bridge. The Maori girl fell off the stone protection wall, and the other child tried to save her. A Native named Takarangi jumped in after both, and reached them, but failed to bring them ashore. The body of one was recovered on Sunday.

INQUESTS. The adjourned inquest on. the body-of Robert O’Roarke, which was found in the North Park on Sunday week, was held-»t the White Swan.Hotelyesterday afternoon, before Mr R. Beetham, coroner. The inquest had been adjourned in order to allow of the stomach being analysed, and Professor Bickerton, who had conducted the analysis, now gave evidence to the effect that arsenic wad found in considerable quantities, quite suffix ■ dent to have caused death. In replyto the Coroner, Sergeant-Major Ramsay said tbit every inquiry had been made, but nounformation had been obtained as, to where the poison had been procured. Deceased was a-shearer, and in most shearing sheds' quantities of arsenic were kept, and it was quite probable that, the poison had been procured from one of these. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict to the effect that deceased. died from araonid poisoning, but by whom the. arsenic was administered, or where it was procured, there was no evidence to rshow. An inquest was held-at Teddingtch-yes-terday on the body of William Georgs Manson, who met his death while out rabbit shooting on Dec 26. Mr R..Beetham was coroner, and Mr Robert Cooper foreman of the jury. The evidence of C. 'Lu Pym, a lad of fourteen years, was to ths effect that he and deceased, whose age was fifteen years and nine, months, went out rabbit shooting on Dec 26. They weir© coming home, and when near whatis known as the High Bush Gate, a rabbit got up. Manson, who was in front of Pym, fired-and missed the rabbit, and then witness covered the rabbit and fired. Manson was then about five yards in front of him, and in a slight hollow. Deceased fell immediately witxisSS fired, and then witness saw blood flowing from his head. Witness made a hasty inspection of his mate, and saw that he had an ugly wound in the head, and that he was breathing heavily. Witness tried to stop the bleeding, hut finding that that was impossible, he covered Manson over and went to take the news to the parents. He had to walk about two miles. Hugh Manson, father of ths deceased, said that he accompanied Pym .to the spqt, and , found bis* son dead. ■ He must ‘have -died instantaneously. He found a large piece of deceased’s skull a few yards from where the body was lying. The hoys had known each other from their infancy, and he had ho reason to suppose that the affair had been due to anything but pure accident. A verdict that deceased was accidently shot was returned,,., . . * DEATH BY DROWNING. Yesterday morning a young man named Leslie Thompson, 18 years of age, was drowned in the Lower Selwyn. It appears that deceased, in company with two eoiafl of Dr. C. Morton-Anderson, drove dowaiko the Lower Selwyn on Christmas Day and camped in a hut belonging to Dr Moorhouse and other anglers, situated oa the Lake Flat some four miles from Springsfcon. At 11.50 a.m. yesterday, deceased, in company with Dr. Anderson’s sons, was bathing in the Selwyn. They had been about ten minutes in the water when Thompson, who seemed to he swimming all right la 12ffc of water, sank. He rose again, and gave no sign of distress, then sank again and did not come up. Morton Anderson, a soq of Dr Anderson, and a man named Hunt, went to the assistance of deceased, but were unable to reach him. The body was recovered by ■ Constable Walton, stationed at Lincoln, and taken to the Lincoln Hotel, where an inquest will be held. Deceased was a clerk in the Bant-of New South" Wales, Christchurch, and was the only son of Mr J. J. Thompson, cf Opawa.

A serious accident occurred yesterday morning to a man named Harry Paget, whi was employed at the sione-breaking ma*

chinery on the Sumner Eoad, Paget’s clothes caught, in'the belting, and he -was whirled round and round before his garments gave way. He was attended by Dr Hunt in the morning, and taken to the hospital in the ambulance yesterday evening. Paget has received a large number of severe bruises and contusions.

Dawkins, who was injured at the Broadfield sports, still, lies at the hospital, in a uery critical condition.