ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 13948, 3 January 1906, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

[Per Press Association.] DANNEVIRKE, January 2. News has been received by cable of the death at sea on the Kumara, on December 18, of Air A. L. Gordon, one of Dannevirke’s foremost businessmen. PAHIATUA/ January 2. At Kaitawa, Ernest Stratford, aged twenty-seven, was thrown from a horse, and sustained injuries from which ho died. DUNEDIN, January., 2. A youth of eighteen years of age, named Alfred Lewis, was the victim of an accident at Deborah Bay on December 31, which resulted in Iris death yesterday. It appears that deceased and another young man were gathering some of the “taipo” explosive which had been left on the beach when the company gave up the manufacture of material. Deceased was putting the explosive in a bag, whilst Nelson held a lighted match. By some means the bag caught fire, and the explosive severely burned Lewis. Dr Borne did what he could, but the unfortunate young man died- at 5 a.m. yesterday. An inquest was held this morning. The evidence disclosed that a quantity of “taipo” had been carted and thrown on the beach at Grassy Point and had been picked up by several persons. The jury returned a verdict that death was due to 'shock caused by severe burns from tho “ taipo- ” explosive. They added a rider that gross carelessness had been, exercised ■ in disposing of the explosive, and that the authorities should take action to discover by whoso authority it was placed within the reach of all and sundry not knowing the danger of the explosive, also tnao immediate steps should be taken to destroy the remainder.