THE ACCIDENT AT PAEROA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6065, 26 April 1881, Page 6

THE ACCIDENT AT PAEROA.

[FROM OtTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Monday. The following jparfciculais give a fuller account of the fatal accident wliieh occurred at Paeroa on Saturday afternoon. It appears the shooting party consisted of four young lads named respectively Frederick Lipsey, aged 17 ; Thomas Cashen, 14; Walter Ritchie, 13 ; and. Ernest Moore, ,11. Ritchie, the unfortunate victim'of the sad accident, was the son of the ■ respected schoolmaster at Paeroa. Two of the lads only; (Lipsey and Ritchie) had guns with them, the others being unarmed. Lipsey and Cashen went out in 'th-j morning, with the intention of shooting ducks and pigeons,-, and were joined at mid-day.by the others. The party were at this time near the junction of the Waihou - River, where they crossed. No shots were fired until about 3 o'clock, when the lads espied 'a shag sitting on a tree, at which, both guns were discharged, Lipsey emptying both barrels of his. . They then began to reload, Lipsey's being a breeh-loading'guh was soon charged. While Ritchie was loading his gun the others saw another shag, and Lipsey called :out' he was going to fire again, , and while in. the act of discharging his gun Ritchie ran right in front of him, receiving the •. contents of. one barrel in. his. head;: Death. was . instanta-neous,-'the brains, being blown : out.. It.is. supposed that Ritchie's object in getting in front'of Lipsey: was' to prevent'the latter firing until he (Ritchie) was ready to do so alao. . The/movement was ' executed so quickly that Lipsey was unable to stay his hand in ; time to' avoid; the accident. The cries of the.lads after they:saw what had attracted the attention of. Mr. Snodgrasa, who went to the body, and also sent!a message' into Paeroa. The remains;were conveyed to Lipsey's Hotel, whereanG inquest was held, before Mr. Peter Austin, J.P., acting coroner. After hearing the evidence, a verdict of accidental death was returned. The ; unfortuate affair has j cast quite a gloom over the settlement. Much sympathy is expressed for Mr. Ritchie and family. . The remains of deceased were buried yesterday afternoon. .