ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4395, 14 December 1875, Page 2

ACCIDENTS.

Ax accident happened to a boy named Charles Clayton, the son of Sir. Henry Clayton, chemist, yesterday afternoon. The boy, who is a little over ten years of age, "was standing in Queen-street, watching the demolition of the old wooden buildings near West Queen-street, when a spring-cart was driven sharply towards the buildings. The driver shouted to the boy, but, before he could get out of the way, he was struck iu the mouth by the shaft. This knocked him down, and the cart-wheel passed over his ribs and stomach. He was picked up in an unconscious state, and taken into Mr. Hamilton's, chemist's shop. Here he received every attention and kindness, and was shortly afterwards taken home. He received a very severe blow in the mouth which cut his lips and broke one of his teeth, but this is believed to be the whole extent of the injury. There is good reason to believe that he has not received any internal injury, and it was not considered necessary to call in medical aid. Drivers of vehicles cannot be too careful in plying their vocation. They should remember that they are not to drive recklessly, allowing people to escape as best they can, but they must use every effort to prevent accidents.

An accident of a rather serious nature occurred yesterday afternoon, in Queenstreet. Two men engaged on the new building being erected for Mr. Dyson, next the premises of Mr. Waters, were lifting a plank, when one of them let go the end he was holding, and it fell to the pavement below, striking a young girl, who was passing at the time, on the side of the head. Two gentlemen liad her at once conveyed, sto the shop of Mr. Aickin, the blood fIoFUDg very copiously from the wound. Dr. Kenderdine was promptly in attendance, and examined the wound, which was found not to be bo serious as at first it was thought to be. The young lady was conveyed to her residence, and it is to be hoped a speedy recovery will follow. It is a highly dangerous practice for workmen to be engaged on a building like the one alluded to without having a hoarding put up. By the merest chance the young lady in question escaped with her life, for had the piece of timber instead of just grazing the side of her head struck her with, all its weight, we should in all probability have had to chronicle a fatal termination to the accident. We trust that the authorities will at once see to this, and that the possibility of a second occurrence of a like nature, either through carelessness on the part of workmen or otherwise, will be entirely removed.