GUN ACCIDENT AT C LEV EBON (WAIROA SOUTH).

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9264, 18 January 1889, Page 5

GUN ACCIDENT AT C LEV EBON (WAIROA SOUTH).

Ax accident occurred on Sunday last about two p.m., to a youth named Arthur Sutherland, aged about 17 years, and in the employ of Mr. James Atchison, farmer, of this place. The last-mentioned gentleman and his wife were on a visit to a married daughter residing at Drury, Miss Atehison, two younger sisters and the lad above-mentioned were left in charge of tho premises. The young man Sutherland took the liberty of amusing himself with a single-barrel gun, the property of Mr. Atchison. Aiiss Atchison advised the lad to leave tho gun alone, but to no purpose. It appears that tho boy is quite unacquainted with firearms, took the gun a short distance from tho house, and put several charges of powder and lead into it, and then fired it off, tiie result being that the weapon burst at the breech, the hammer being blown off, and the whole barrel and stock splintered to pieces. The boy was thrown down by the explosion, and cut about the face and arms, but, fortunately, the wounds are not dangerous. When Miss Atchison heard the explosion she remarked to her sisters that the report was louder than an ordinary shot, and on going out found the lad lying on the ground meeding, as above described. The young lady was quite alarmed, and immediately sent for Mr. De-Moidry, a neighbour, who lives about half a miie from Mr. Atchison's house, who paid every attention to the sufferer.—[Own Correspondent, January 16.]