ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 28, 2 January 1926, Page 6

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

AN OVERTURNED DRAY. DEATH OP A LABOURER. For Press Association. BLENHEIM, Jan. 1. A fatality occurred yesterday on the Upper Awatere road, whereby Thomas McQueen lost his life, and Arthur Coombs was injured. Tho men had been at tho Jordan accommodation house, and were returning in a spring dray to Woodmen’s Bend, where they were employed as labourers by the Public Works Department. Later tho dray was found overturned down a bank about two miles from tho Jordan. Tho dray lay across McQueen’s chest, and ho was quite dead. Coombs was found in some scrub nearby. Ho was in a dazed condition, with a foot badly crushed, and he was also bruised about the body. Ho was taken to hospital. So far lie is unable to give a coherent explanation of tho accident.

HEART FAILURE. DUNEDIN, Jan. 1. An inquest on John Murphy, who died in tho Empire Hotel, was held yesterday. Tho evidence showed that deceased in tho early morning complained to tho licensee of pains in the abdomen. Ho had been given some brandy and a porter had been requested to procure some medicino from tho chemist. This had been taken later. Tho licensee found deceased lying in tho passage. A doctor was sent for, but tho man expired shortly after his arrival. Tho coroner found that deceased died of heart failure as a result of aeuto abdominal trouble, the nature of which could not be ascertained without a post-mortem. The evidence had shown that deceased had not been drinking at the hotel. Ho commented on the fact that tho licensee had not called tlio doctor eariler, but had ho done so it was possible that it would not have saved the man’s life. It was unfortunate, however, that nothing further had been done for deceased. Murphy had been employed by tho Public Works Department at Miller’s Flat. DEATH OF A WIDOW. DUNEDIN, Jan. 1. Agnes Elizabeth Patrick, a widow, aged 69 years, who resided at Christchurch, and who arrived at Dunedin on December 19, died in a private hospital hero at 8.45 a.m. to-day. When stepping off a bus she had fallen, and it was thought her pelvis bone had been broken. Tho inquest was opened, and after evidence of identification, had been given by Charles Andrew Cotton, Professor of Geology, Wellington, the inquiry was adjourned sino die.