ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Manawatu Standard, Issue XLI, 17 December 1908, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

While patrolling the Upokongaro side of the Wanganui river, oil the occasion of the sculling race on Tuesrday, Constable Fitzpatrick was informed that a man had been, found lying on the side of the road about one mile above the Upokongaro Hotel. On making investigation the Constable found that the man was dead, and as the result of inquiry, ascertained that deceased, whose name was James Ford, had been employed as a labourer by Mr H. M. Speed, farmer, of Makirikiri. It appears that deceased went up the river to view the boat race from the starting point, on horseback, accompanied by Mr Thomas Kennedy, farmer, of Waverley. After the start of the race, Mr Kennedy missed him, and at the conclusion of the race, deceased was found on the side of the road near the winning post, by Messrs G. Shepherd and E. Ferry. He was. still living, and the riderless.horse was found further down the road. The ground where deceased was found is very rough, large lumps of rushes growing there, and apparently the horse stumbled and deceased was thrown. Mr Kennedy stated that Ford was perfectly sober at the time of his death, and his employer, Mr Speed, stated that deceased was a total abstainer. Deceased is said to have a brother, residing in Auckland, , and another up the Main Trunk line, but their addresses are nob known. — Chronicle.