MR N. GILLIES' DEATH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1714, 3 January 1920, Page 6

MR N. GILLIES' DEATH.

OPENING OF THE.INQUEST.

Tho Fcilding Star has the following regarding the motor ■ bicycle accident tby which Mr Norman Gillies wet his death on Thursday afternoon:— Ho passed through Hull's at a great speed, but was. blocked'''on tho Bulls bridge by if line of rhotOr cars.' Speaking to him' while he was waiting alongside a cur,'a Fcilding-resident suggested that there was room for him to walk his bicycle through the cars. Mr Gi'lies smiled, and said, 'Gh.'-I will soon pass the motor ears ou'tli* load" The ears then all moved on and shortly afterwards 'Mr Gillies whizzed by on his motor cycle. When the motorists were a few hundred [yards past the Sandon Hotel a motor bicycle was noticed lying. on the grass alongside the road and a man alongside Mr and Mrs Roberts, of Pohangina, Miss Duncan, and »Mr Adsett, in a car-driven by Mi' Roberts, junr., were the.first to notice the accident, and they got Mr Gillies into their car, and drove him to ■ Fcilding; where medical a>id was secure?!, but he was then beyond, all help. The action of the occupants of the car, especially the ladies, and Mr Roberts, senr, (who held Mr Gillies in his arms r.ll tho way to Fcilding) cannot be too highly, spoken of. ' • ■ : ~'. An inquest was opened at Fcilding yest6v- ; day tby Mr # E. Coodbehere, Coroner.': Constable Anderson conducted the case on behalf of the police, who said the evidence that had already been gathered showed ■that the tragedy had/been purely ,aii accident. It appears that the bicycle skidded on' v lhe loose'gravel. .-. Evidence was given by Chas. L.. Gillies, farmer, ot Palmerston, who recognised the body as that of his Witness was with his r Urothcr on»ihe Marton "racecourse :i|> till 4.30 o'clock on Thursday afternoon, hut (lid not seo him again alive.. <Deceased had served'-3a ■ years at the war, and returned olily about, three months ago.. He had beef/ wounded and gassed, but had returned ,ii) norma! health. Since his return he had been residing in Wa'ngariili; but. he told witness oiKT.bursday that it was his intention ta'gn homi' to Palmerston after the

••aces on his motor cycle, wliicli In 1 was tffl 'customed to tilling both Mbforc the war and 'since his return He was a -fast rider occasionally. .There was a good deal of motor traffic oir'the Sandon-Bulls road laic en Thursday afternoon. This was all the evidence taken, the in-((ii';.-'t being adjourned until 10 o'clock next Tuesday morning'. .