ACCIDENTS, ETC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9131, 13 August 1888, Page 10

ACCIDENTS, ETC.

BOATING DISASTER.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, August 5. As intelligence was received here last evening by Mr. Milehelson that a boating accident had occurred at Kawerua, between Hokianga Heads and Mangonui Bluff, by which Mr. Wyatt, storekeeper at Kawerua, and one native, were drowned, and two natives had drifted out to sea clinging to the boat, I interviewed the Minister to-day on the subject to ascertain further particulars.

The first tidings of the disaster were received last evening by Mr. Mitchelson from his brother at Dargaville, and about the same time a telegram reached Mr. T. W. Lewis, Under-Secretary of the Native Department, from Mr. Bishop, R.M. at Mangonui, acquainting him with the disaster. .Mr. Bishop, in a telegram at .4 o'clock, stated that he had just received a message from the telephonist at Rawene telephone station, informing him of the accident, which took place at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. Mr. Jarvie, who is Mr. Wyatt's partner, had ridden in from Kawcra to Omapere, a distance of twelve miles, where there is a telephone station, and reported the occurrence.

The water was so rough, in addition to which the settlers' boat was so smashed up in tiie surf that they were helpless to attempt a rescue. Mr. Bishop thought the only chance the natives had was to cling to the boat. As the steam launch at Hokianga could not cross tin; bar, the only way to rescue them was to despatch a steamer from the Manukan or Kaipara. At eight o'clock Mi'. Hemus telegraphed from Onehunga that the harbourmaster of Onehunga, thought there was a chance of saving life if the steamer started. In three hours the Rowena could be secured, and could leave in a few hours, as soon as the crew were gathered together and coal shipped.

Air. Lewis thanked Mr. Heinus for his prompt action, and telegraphed by direction of the Native Minister to the Harbourmaster to arrange for the despatch of the Rowena, to give the captain such instructions as he deemed necessary. Meanwhile, the Premier had directed the telegraph stations at Auckland, Onelnmga, and Mangonui to be kept open till released. At ten p.m. the harbourmaster telegraphed that he had arranged for the Kowena on the basis of the working expenses, and had given the captain what instructions he; deemed advisable. This morning early Mr. Lewis opened up communication withOnehunga, and ascertained that the Rowena had left at half-past five a.m., and had crossed the Manukau bar at nine o'clock in the morning. Information was also received from Mr. Bishop stating that the Maori drowned with Mr. Wyatt was Te Marenga, and the native saved was King: Ruweranui, and a half-caste named Tai Tawhai.

The men saved were for many hours in the water. Wyatt clung to the boat, but was finally knocked oil' and sank, as he could not swim. The boat drifted over a mile to the north, the witnesses on shore being unable to help, and was then gradually driven in by the flood tide. The men hung to the boat till it was smashed upon the surf and rocks, and were badly knocked about in the surf before they reached land in safety. Mr. Wyatt was formerly connected in business with ono of the brothers of the Hon. E. Mitchelson at Hokianga, but was lately carrying on business in partnership with Mr. Jarvie. A brother of Mr. Jarvie's was drowned at the same place some time ago while getting sotno stores landed from the steamer which called there. I understand that the deceased leaves a wife and family in fairly comfortable circumstances. Ho was a venturesome sailor; and went in and out of Hokianga Heads and Kaipara Heads under very risky circumstances.

The following telegram was on August 6 received by Inspector Broham, from Constable Ward, respecting the boating accident at Kawerua :—" It was heartrending, seeing brave men perish, and to be utterly powerless to save them. A few rocket tubes would have saved them all. Wyatt was evidently struck with the boat in one of her many turns over. The people on shore could almost touch them sometimes, but the back rush would carry them chains away again." He describes Wyatt's body as being sadly bruised.

WRECK NEAR BLENHEIM.

Wellington, August 10. The iron barque Kate Tatham, bound from Newcastle to Napier with a cargo of coal, was wrecked at the White Bluff, about two miles and a-half from the Wairau River, Blenheim, last night. It appears that the vessel was beating across the Straits with a fresh breeze and high sea and swell, when she got too close in before observing the land, which was obscured by thick weather. Before anything could be done to work the ship out of her dangerous position, she struck the rocks, and remained fast. It was about six o'clock last evening when the vessel first struck, and the crew were at once employed in lightening the vessel, with the view of getting her off. Rockets were fired, so as to attract the attention of passing vessels, and these were seen about eight o'clock by the Union Company's steamer Kanieri while crossing the Wairau bar on her way to Wellington.

Captain Manning at once went to the assistance of the ill-fated barque, and remained by her all night. At four o'clock this morning the Kanieri had a line taken on board, and an attempt was made to tow the vessel off, but without success. Between seven and eight o'clock the Waihi also came to the assistance of the barque, and along with the Kanieri further attempts were made to move the vessel, but, although they tugged away for hours, it had no effect.

About nine o'clock in the morning the ship's pumps were sounded, and it was ascertained there were ten feet of water in the hold, and by ten o'clock it had risen above the cargo. As there was no chance of the vessel coming off the captain of the Kanieri decided to resume his voyage to Wellington ; and Mr. Edward O'Brien, the chief officer, and five other members of the crew of the Kate Tatham, came over in her.

The captain, boatswain, and one of the seamen were left on the wreck, and should the vessel show signs of breaking up they will land in one of the ship's boats. Mr. O'Brien reports that the Kate Tatham, Captain Moore, left Newcastle on the 25th ult.. with 400 tons of coal for Napier. The vessel was well found in every respect, and had moderate weather across to New Zealand, making Cape Farewell spit light on Tuesday, when she commenced to beat through Cook Straits, and was off Sinclair Head at eleven o'clock yesterday morning, when she tacked and stood across towards Cloudy Bay, with the result mentioned above. Mr. O'Brien attributes the accident to the thick weather and the land being very deceiving at the time of the mishap, and also the vessel being set in by a heavy swell.

The vessel lies on a very rough bottom, and the chief officer considers that she will become a total wreck, but states that a large quantity of gear can be saved if steps are at once taken to dismantle the ship. All the personal effects of the crow were placed on the Kanieri this morning, and brought on to Wellington.

The Kate Tatham is a small barque of 275 tons, is 25 years old, and owned by .Messrs. Tait and Mills, of Napier. It is understood that both vessel and cargo are insured, but in what offices is not known here. She is valued at about £2000.

When the Kanieri left the wreck the vessel was full of water, and her grating on the rocks could be distinctly heard on board the steamer. It is feared that the barque will soon go to pieces.

FATAL WHALE HUNT.

GISBORXK, August 10. This morning at Pokotakino, some miles north of Gisborne, five Maori wlmleboats were out in chase of a school of sperm whales, when one monster rushed the boats. One boat was smashed to atoms, and another was stove-in and sunk. One of the crew of the first boat sunk, and was seen no more, and two were severely injured. The occupants of the boats which were sunk were picked up or managed to get ashore. The party succeeded in capturing and landing on the beach three whales. John Gough, aged 52, was killed at the Porotorau tunnel on Saturday, July "28, half-an-hour after commencing work, by a fall of earth, while taking: down timber past the end of the brickwork. He was dug out in ten minutes, but life was extinct. Mr. Adams, .foreman on the works, rode into Te Kuiti, and informed Constable Berriman, who came down to Te Awamutu for the coroner, who was from home, so Mr. \V. S. Rutherford, J.P., returned with him (a journey of seventy miles, on horseback, in the night), and held an inquest at the tunnel early on the 30th July. A verdict was returned that deceased had been accidentally killed by a fall of earth in the tunnel, but that no blame was attachable to anyone. A policy in the Australian Mutual Provident Society was found amongst the deceased's effects. Two men and a boy named Frank Smith were also injured, and the boy was taken to the Hamilton Hospital. When Cough's body was recovered, it was found that his head had been smashed.

One of those accidents to which thoughtless servant girls are constantly subject, namely, that of their dresses taking fire, occurred on July 18 at the North Shore, and a fatal termination was only prevented by the presence of mind of Mrs. J. Williams. It appears that Mary Sullivan, a domestic servant in the employ of Mr. J. Williams, tailor, was engaged cooking dinner, and while leaning over the fire her clothing became ignited. She rushed into the yard, and down the garden to a wash-house in which Mrs. Williams was, and threw herself into Mrs. Williams' arms, clinging to her desperately. Mrs. Williams succeeded in throwing the excited girl down, and she then covered her with sacks, and threw water over her. The whole of the upper portion of the dress, from the waist, is burnt away, but her chest was fortunately protected by thick woollen underclothing, and so escaped injury. The arms, however, are severely burnt. She was taken into the house and put to bed, and the usual remedies were applied, medical assistance being in the meantime sent for.

A rather serious accident occurred on the Bth August on the Lake Road, the facts of which are in substance as follows :—lt seems that Mr. Budge, who resides a short distance from Lake Takapuna, was driving into town in company with Mr. J. Meiklejohn, on their way to business. They were driving a dogcart, in the shafts of which was a young mare. The mare came along all right till passing the gates of one of the residences, one of those dogs which are a pest to drivers came rushing out barking, and made a jump at the mare. This startled her, and she shied right across the road, rearing and throwing the dogcart over and its occupants out. Mr. Budge was thrown heavily, and received a severe injury to his knee, but Mr. Meiklejohn escaped with a severe shaking. Both gentlemen were able to pick themselves up, but only just in time, for they had scarcely risen before the mare, in her struggles to free herself, threw the trap, and stumbled herself right on to the spot where they had been lying. The dogcart was wrecked, and the mare received a number of severe cuts about the legs and quarters. Assistance was obtained, and Mr. Budge was taken to Dr. Parkinson's house, where he was examined by that gentleman, and put to bed. No bones were found to be broken, but Mr. Budge will have to rest for a day or two before he will be able to be out and about. An accident of a very serious nature occurred at Pukekohe on the Pith July, the morning of the ploughing match. Mr. J. Henry Wright, jun., one of the competitors, on Ids way to the match, allowed his little brother, about seven or eight years old, and a young son of Mr. John Johns, to ride one of the plough horses on their way to school. At the foot of what is known as Slater's Hill the mare stumbled, causing the two little fellows to fall off. Young Johns, who was behind, fell clear, but little Monte Wright clung to the names, which with the collar turned round on the mare's neck, thus bringing the poor little fellow under the mare's legs. In recovering herself, she put her hind foot, on which was a caulked shoe, on the back of his head, inflicting a nasty wound, and fracturing the skull. Mr. Wright, jun., took the boy without delay to the surgery of Dr. Dalziel, who fortunately was at home. On examination it was found necessary to administer chloroform, so as to perform a surgical operation known as trepanning, and the little fellow is going on as satisfactorily as could be desired under the circumstances. On Friday, the 20th July, about two m., a very serious accident happened at Woodlands Farm, Clevedon. At the abovementioned hour a young man named Mr. Arthur Musters, a relative of Captain Whitney, and residing with that gentleman's family on the farm, started on horseback for the purpose of posting letters at the Clevedon Post Office, a distance of about four miles. The horse he was riding is known to be a rather tricky one, and was showing temper at starting, but Captain Whitney's family did not consider that there was any danger, as Mr. Musters had ridden the horse often before. Mr. Musters had not long started when the horse was noticed coming up the avenue without his rider. Captain Whitney's people immediately made search, and found the young man close to the house amongst the trees in an unconscious state. Dr. Bewes was immediately telephoned for, and attended the sufferer.

An inquest was held on the 28th July, at the Asylum, upon the body of John Brown, a patient, before Dr. Philson and a jury, when a verdict of died from natural causes was returned.

A painful accident happened to the Hon. Mr. Fergus, Defence Minister, on August 4. He was having a bath at the Parliamentary Buildings, when in reaching his right hand over his head sharply, it struck a gas globe, breaking it. The fractured glass cut his wrist severely, and the blood spurted out freely. He called out to the occupant of the next bath, Dr. Fitchett, to take his handKerchief to make a' tourniquet to stop the bleeding, but Dr. Pollen being in the neighbourhood, his services were called in, and he affixed the tourniquet. Subsequently Dr. Grace came and attended Mr. Fergus' injuries. On August 5 Mr. Fergus felt better, though the wrist and hand are considerably swollen. It is supposed some of the nerves or tendons are injured, as he cannot move the fourth and fifth lingers, and it will be some little time before he will be able to use his hand.

A fatal accident occurred at Rotorua on Aug. 8, resulting in speedy death. While a party of natives were employed in clearing a spot in the neighbouring bush for cultivation one of their women so engaged, while running away from a falling tree, tripped and fell on a sharp stump, a portion of the tree pinning her through the breast. Strange to say, she was not killed instantaneously, but lingered while being conveyed in a cart to the township. Death put an end to her agony on the journey. Being a woman of no mean rank, and one much respected by all who knew her, considerable numbers are gathering from all quarters to join in the tangi. A young girl named Rose McCaffrey, about sixteen years of ago, domestic servant at the Robert Burns Hotel, was severely burned on August 4, shortly after one o'clock p.m., through her dress catching fire whilst she was employed in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Hearing her screams, Miss Mary Ryan, niece of the landlady, Mrs. Stone, ran into the kitchen, and promptly seizing a rug, beat the flames, which were extinguished with some difficulty. It was found that the poor girl had been much burned about the legs, and her injuries having been dressed by Dr. Wine, she was removed to the house of her parents in Napier-street, where she is under the care of Dr. Lewis, and is now improving.

Mrs. Charles Courtney, of Whangarei town, met a fatal accident by falling down a well on the 7th August. The deceased had gone out to draw water before the rest of the family were up, and it is supposed that her foot had slipped, because she appeared to have struck her head on the woodwork and got stunned. Some of the family were awake, but heard no noise for some time after the occurrence. Deceased leaves eight children, the youngest being only one year old. The family were old residents, and the sad event has cast quite a gloom over the town.

The man Frank Ryan, who, it will be remembered, was attacked with erysipelas after having had a tooth drawn by the Canadian doctors, a few weeks ago, died at the Hospital on July 20 from erysipelas and gangrene of the face and eye. Deceased was admitted to the Hospital on the 2Sth of .June, having been treated by Dr. Hooper, and he was seen by Dr. Lindsay, who prescribed iodoform (to be dusted on his face) and poultices, a mixture containing iron being also given to the patient. His condition improved, but it was found that his left eye had been destroyed, and he became depressed mentally, and at length sank into a state of debility, from which he did not rally. Dr. Lindsay has given a certificate of death.

During the last trip of the s.s. Douglas to the Bay of Plenty an accident occurred by which Captain Austin and one of the deck hands had a narrow escape from drowning. On the arrival of the steamer oft' Whakatane, Captain Austin and the man put off from the vessel to place lights on the rocks at the entrance to the Whakatane channel. Their boat had not left the steamer ten minutes before those on board heard cries for assistance. The mate immediately ordered the lifeboat to be manned and launched, and on its being pulled with all haste to the spot Captain Austin and his man were found clinging to their boat, which had been upturned by the heavy waves. Both were in an exhausted condition, but we are glad to learn that they have suffered no serious effects from their immersion.

Information was received at the police station on August 1 that Mrs. Mary Ann Sisam, the wife of Mr. W. Sisam, farmer, Waitakerei, had dropped dead under the followingcircumstances : —Mrs. Sisam, while walking across the kitchen during preparation for dinner on August 1, suddenly fell down, and on being picked up she was found to be dead. Mrs. Sisam has hitherto been considered a perfectly healthy woman, and all her relatives express surprise at her sudden decease. An inquest was held the following day, before Mr. A. Beet ham, coroner for the district, when a verdict of " Death from natural causes'' was returned.

Mr. J. Barr Brown, of Waiuku, died suddenly at two o'clock on Thursday afternoon, August 2. An inquest on the body was held on August 3. Mr. W. J. Harris acted as coroner, and Mr. E. Constable was chosen foreman of the jury. The evidence showed that some two and a-half years ago the deceased met with an accident by being thrown out of his buggy resulting in injury to his spine, and that ever since he had been, with brief intervals, confined to his bed. In consequence of his objection to medical advice no doctor was called in to attend him. Deceased frequently expressed his belief that he was dying, and gave instructions concerning his funeral. On the afternoon of August 2, on Mrs. Brown entering the bedroom, she found that deceased had expired. He was 49 years of age. Dr. Dalziel, who had made a post mortem examination, deposed that the cause of death was chronic alcoholism. The jury returned a verdict to that effect, adding that they were of opinion that a medical man should have been called in for the deceased, and that measures should have been taken to prevent the deceased from indulgence in the excessive use of alcohol. At Papakura, on August 3, a little girl four years of age, named Lizzie Laffety, was severely burnt. Some fallen bush was being burnt off, and a spark ignited her clothes. The flames were promptly put out, and the child was brought down to the Hospital, where she is now progressing favourably.

A young man named Henry Barrett, son of one of the contractors for falling the Patetere Company's bush land, was cutting wood with an axe on July 27, when the axe, catching in a small branch, swerved to one side, and striking his foot, cut off three of his toes. He was brought to the Waikato Hospital on July 28, where his injuries were attended to.

The body of James Bruce Wallace was found on July 24 on the foreshore at Te Aro, Wellington. There was a large gush over the right temple, and other minor bruises on the face. It is believed that these were caused by his falling off the breastwork. The deceased was an old and well-known colonist, and was 69 years of age.

A man was killed on the railway, near Palmerston, on the 24th July. He was named Jeremiah Maloney, and was a single man, employed as a labourer. It appears that he was crossing the line, when he was caught by an engine which was shunting. One of his legs was cut off and the other broken, besides which he received internal injuries. The sufferer lingered four or rive hours, when he expired. •-: An inquest was held at Waiau, Christchurch, on Thursday, the 19th July, on the body found at Leslie Pass, which was identified as that ot Chas. Holt, a shepherd, of St. James' station. He had been drinking at Waiau for a fortnight, and left there with two men the previous Sunday, taking a bottle of whisky, which he broached a mile this side of the" Leslie Pass. He would then go on no further, and his companions went on without him. The verdict was, " Died from exposure while wandering about in a depressed state of mind through excessive drinking." A young man, James Douglas, a shepherd at Debell's Shag Valley station, Dunback, Otago, was killed on July 21. His horse took fright, and Douglas mounting another went after it. It is supposed he came into collision with the post of a fence, as he was found lying dead with his neck broken. An apprentice in a coachsmith's shop in the Wairarapa district had a remarkable escape recently. Whilst drilling some machinery the sleeve of his shirt caught the revolving drill spindle stud, and before he had time to cry out, the whole of his garments were stripped off him, with the exception of his boots and socks and a paper collar.

Gibbon Williamson, the man injured at the Purakunui Cliffs, Otago, on August 6 by a falling stone, died in the hospital on August 8, having never recovered consciousness. He leaves a wife and large family.

An accident occurred at Wellington on the 18th July to a youn 0 - man named Thos. Morris, a member of one of the Wellington Volunteer corps. While handling his rifle at his residence, Henson-street the weapon went off, and the bullet entered his breast, about an inch and a-half to the left of the heart, and passed out at the back of the blade bone, going right through the posterior portion of the bone. The lung is also injured. A telegram to the Nelson Mail reports the death by drowning at Waitapu of Ed war 1 Robinson, formerly master of a vessel trading at that port. A boat was sent ashore from the steamer Lady Barkley with passengers under his charge when it capsized, and he was drowned. The others were saved. A serious accidenthappenedtoaman named William Greenfield, plasterer, Wellington, on August 4, about twenty minutes past six p.m. He was crossing the road when he was knocked down by a horse attached to a tram car, which had just turned a corner. The injured man, who was in an insensible condition, was taken to the hospital. He recovered consciousness some time after, but it is thought that his injuries are rather of a serious nature. Thomas Jennings, age 21, died of exposure near Stronach Station, Cromwell. He was employed as a rabbiter. A man named James Davis, a passenger from Greymouth to Westporfc by the steamer Kennedy, disappeared overboard from the steamer when within a few miles of Westport, about ten o'clock on August 8. He had suffered from illness and weakness of mind, and was going to Westport for a change. On the 17th July a Chinaman met with his death while engaged in clearing a block in a tailrace at Greenstone Road, near Westbrook, Hokitika. He was washed down through the race over the tip, and badly injured, and lived only a few hours after being taken to Kumara Hospital. About 12.15 p.m. on August 10, William Bates, aged 70, was run over by a train on the Lytteltoii line, near Wilson Road, and cut in two. He was standing on the platform of the front carriage, and fell between the engine and the carriage—four carriages passing over him. John Cookson, aged 15, son of a settler at Sea View, near Timaru, was kicked on the head by a horse on the 29th July, and sustained a compound fracture of the skull. He never recovered consciousness, and died at two p.m. next day. Shortly before four o'clock on Friday afternoon, the 27th July, at Christchurch, Mr. J. H. Potts, an old resident of Canterbury, dropped dead at Mrs. Shirland's fancy goods shop, Colombo-street. He was about BO years old, and was a member of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College, also a member of the Provincial Council in bygone years. He was one of the best naturalists in the colony, and was widely known by his series ot papers entitled " Out in the Open." At an inquest on Mr. T. H. Potts on July 28, Dr. aeon deposed that death had resulted from convulsions, caused by brain disease of long standing. A half-caste named Downes was drowned on July 29 about .'55 miles from Marton, while attempting to swim a horse across the Rangitikei River. At the inquest on William Walsh, who died suddenly at Southbridge, Canterbury, the jury returned a verdict of death from acute bronchitis, accelerated by exposure, adding a rider that the fact that he had been refused admission to the hospital should be brought under the notice of the Hospital Board. A child named Charles Oates, aged three, was drowned in a creek at Tamaki, Carterton, on July 2-1.