ACCIDENTS, ETC

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11949, 25 April 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

ACCIDENTS, ETC

SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

TRAINS COLLIDE ON OTAGO CENTRAL LINE. Dunedix, April 21. What is believed to be a somewhat serious

collision occurred on the Otago Central railway this evening.

The down train usually going to Dunedin was running about two hours late, owing to a slip at Wedderbnrn. About 400 yds the other side of Hiudon it came into collision with the ten minutes to three train from Dunedin.

The two engines and several trucks of both trains left the rails, and some of the trucks and carriages were much damaged. One carnage it is believed was telescoped. A fireman had his leg broken, and several passengers were injured or knocked about. Had the collision occurred higher up, both trains must have gone into the river, 40ft or 50ft below. 'there were 25 passengers in the down train, but very few on the up train.

One engine was much damaged, also four waggons and one car. Five waggons were derailed.

April 22. The accident on the Otago eentn.i line was caused through the guard and driver of the up train missing the instructions. The down train was running late, and the usual crossingplace was altered from Paera to Iliudon. The guard of the up train was instructed at Wingatui to cross the down train at Hiudon. On arriving' at Hindon ho should have waited there till the other came through, but apparently confused these instructions with ft message received by telephone at Hindon to cross another train at barewood. At any rate, he proceeded on his way, and within a very few minutes after leaving Hindon collided with the down train.

Though the train:, are said to have been travelling slowly when the collision occurred they must have come together with great force*, from the fact that one of the carriages was telescoped into another within 6ft of tic i nil. Tlio carriage that suffered most was tho front one of the down train, and in the front compartment were several passengers. In the second compartment, it appears, the only occupant was a man, who had lost one leg, but fortunately he was sitting at tho forward end when tho next carriage came crashing through. He had an almost miraculous escape. Immediately on receipt of the news of tin: accident a train was despatched from Dunedin, conveying Dr. .Marshall McDonald and ambulance appliances for the .-cone of the collision. This train left Dunedin at eit'ht p.m., and arrived there shortly before half-pest nine. No time was lost by Dr. McDonald in setting to work to attend to the injured, and he soon found nobody was dangerously hurt, with the exception of the fireman (tin-art). Sergeant-Major Cardalo sustained a cut above, ihe eye, and had besides his left hand badly injured. One finger was completely smashed. He stated that lie was flung from the carriage platform over the cliff, and fell a distance of about oOffc in the direction of the river.

rhvart, the fireman, who was at first supposed to have had his leg fractured, sustained a dislocation of the hip, and was on arrival of the break-down train at Dnnedin removed to the hospital in the ambulance. TWO YOUNG MEN DROWNED. While playing near the beach at St. Mary's Point, Freeman's Bay, on April 10. a number of lads noticed two bodies floating in the fide, and immediately communicated the fact to Constable Finnerty, of the Freeman's Bay station. On proceeding to the beach lie recovered the bodies of two young men. which were removed to the morgue. They were subsequently identified as the bodies of Charles Sawyers, aged 19. and Alexander Moore, aged 20. who had been employed by Mr. .1. Rendell, draper, of Queen-street. From inquiries that have been made, it appears that the deceased on the 9th of April (their weekly half-holiday) announced their intention of going boating. They left St. Mary's beach in a small dingey to board a yacht belonging to Mr. T. Ryan, of Pon.-oidiy, which they had obtained for the afternoon. They intended to go for a sail and return that evening. They were seen to board the boat and sail down the harbour. The yacht returned In her moorings (about 300 yds from the shorn) in the evening, just about dusk, but nobody saw the young men put. off for the shore. It is presumed, however, that deceased must have been capsized when pulling ashore in the dingey. Sawyers was born in England, and only arrived in the colony some 10 months ago. An inquest was held on April 11, at the Criterion Hotel, before Mr. Gresham (coroner), into the circumstances. The jury relumed a verdict of accidental drowning.

The Commissioner of Police has received a report, that the analysis of the liver and stomach of the late Mrs. Court, who died at Okoroire Hotel last month, has been completed by Mr. Pond, Government analyst, at Auckland, who failed to find traces either of mineral or alkaloid poison. Samples of food stuffs and condiments used when "Mrs. Court was at the hotel were found to be sound and wholesome. Mr. Pond is of opinion that the illness of Mrs. Court and other lodgers was caused by ptomaines in the whipped cream. Several medical men in Auckland agree with this theory. It will be remembered that 17 other boarders were taken ill at the same time.

The departure of the Union Company's steamer Herald, from Onehunga to Greymouth, on April 15 was delayed owing to the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Johnstone, the chief engineer. Captain Dewhurst reported to Mr. Barnes, the local agent, that Mr. Johnstone was not present to take charge of the engine-room, at six a.m., the hour for sailing. An immediate search was made and continued for three hours, but no trace could be found of the missing man. At nine a.m. the steamer proceeded to Greymouth without Mr. Johnstone. The body of the missing man was found in the Manukau Harbour on the 16th of April, mar St. Ann's bridge, Otahuhu. The body having been removed to Onehunga, an inquest was held. The jury returned the following verdict: —

"That the deceased, Robert Johnstone, was seized with a fit of giddiness on Monday night last, and accidentally fell oil the Onehunga Wharf into the Manukau Harbour, and was drowned."

On April 8 Inspector Cullen received a telegram from Constable Fitzgerald, Kihikihi, stating that information had readied him the previous evening, from Waotu station, that a half-caste native named i'ohitau Rangi had been drowned while attempting to swim the Waikato River on April 5.'

A fatal accident occurred at Mangatainoko railway station on April 15. Charles Sponger was standing on the edge of the platform when the half-past nine train came in. He suddenly lurched forward, and was struck by the cowcatcher. When picked up he was quite dead. His neck was broken, and there was also a gash on the side of his head. Deceased, who was a cabinetmaker, had only one leg. A fatal accident occurred near Longburn on April 21, when Mrs. Doreen was thrown from a trap on her head, and sustained such severe injuries that she died before she could be conveyed to her home.

Christian, a brother-in-law of McMath, dredgemaster, Hokitika, was drowned at two a.m. oil Friday, April 18, while taking a boatload of wool to the Kohinoor died'" pontoons, near Ross.

A man named McNeill, who fell down the hold of the Haupiri on April 18. died in Greymonth Hospital. His buck was broken. He leaves a widow and a large family.

John amble, aged 70. an old age pensioner, residing at Beaumont, Tuapeka, was working a reaper with his daughter on April 17, when his team got out of hand. The father and daughter were thrown off the machine. The daughter miraculously escaped injury, but her father, when picked up, was dead, and horribly mutilated, having got among the knives. An inquest: was held on April 21. at the Avondale Hotel, before Mr. Greshain, coroner, on the body of a man named John Brought on, 73 years of age, an Imperial pensioner, and formerly a sergeantmajor in 11. M. Royal Artillery, whose body was found in "the Whau Creek on Sunday. William Henry Wroath identified the body as that of his father-in-law. A verdict "was returned to the. effect that death had resulted from drowning, but that there was not sufficient evidence to enable them to determine by what means the deceased came into the waier.

Gunner Hoyleton, of the Permanent Artillery, Christchurcn, was found dead at Camp Bay. on Wednesday, the 16th of April, apparently having fallen over a cliff about 50ft high! He was about 25 years of age. and came from Waimate. A sad accident happened at Ruapekapeka on the 11th inst. (writes our correspondent) resulting in the death by burns of a little girl belonging to Mr. Danzey. It appears that she was at home when some bricks became displaced at the fireplace, the tried to put them back, when her dress caught fire, and she was burnt so severely that she died shortly after. The unfortunate child was only * six years of age. "Richard Connolly died at Wailu on April 10. An inquest 'was held in the afternoon, before Mr. Max 1). King, J.P.. acting coroner. Sergeant Brennan appeared for the police, and" he and Constable Payne gave evidence that they had thoroughly investigated Connolly's case, and were quite satisfied that deceased met with his injuries through accidentally falling off the Silverton tramway tip-head. " Evidence was also given by Drs.' Guinness and Shitor, J. Xewdick, H. E. Butler, D. Landy, and Walsh. After due consideration the following verdict, based upon the medical testimony, was returned:— The deceased. Richard Connolly, met with his death at Waihi through pneumonia, on April 10, caused by exposure after an accidental fall over the old Silverton tramline tip-head on April 5." On April P, shortly before eight o'clock, the bodv of a man was found float-

big in the harbour, near the Hobson-street Wharf. On the information being conveyed to the police. Constables Cahill and Pinkerton proceeded to the snot and recovered the body, which was conveyed to the morgue, and* identified as that of an old nun named Isaac Keighlry (about 60 years of age). During the afternoon an inquest was held. The jury returned a verdict of " Found drowned." adding that there was not sufficient evidence to show by what means deceased got into the water. A young man named Parkinson was killed at the Tikokino sawmill, Hawke's Bay. recently. He was working with another man named Walker in moving some heavy logs 55ft long. Walker was on. the upper side and Parkinson on the lower. Walker called out that the log was moving, and told the other to stand out of the way. The latter jumped round to the top side, and one end of the log fell down and the other flew up and struck Parkinson on the head, jamming it. against another log. and smashing the skull. The accident was seen by other men, who at once removed the body to some grass close by. but he never spoke again, and died half-an-hour later.

Our Ilukerenui South correspondent, writing on April 8, says:— have, to chronicle another sad accident that happened this afternoon, resulting in the death by diowning of a man named George Brooker. lie was rafting logs in the Waiolu River, when his pole slipped, and he fell in.

An unmarried man named John Pendrill whs killed at Mercury Bay on April 8, in a most peculiar manner. Pondrill. who has been for many yea-- working in the bushes about Mercury Bay and HikuUin was on April 8 employed on a bush contract at Rangihau, Thqre were five men engaged, two being at work felling a very large kauri several chains away from where the other three were working. The large kauri in its fall struck a' kauri sapling, which snapped, tino was thrown about two chains, where it came in contact with something, which caused it to rebound towards where the three men were working. It struck Pondrill, and instantly decapitated him. On A mil 12 the body of an elderly man named John Brooks was found in a tank in the ( hrietchurch railway station. Deceased had only been released from Lyttelton gaol on April 10 after serving a. sentence of six months for obtaining money by false pretences.

A child three, and a-half years of age named Newnham, fell into a tub of hot "sponge" at a bakehouse at Ohohoka, and was scalded so severely that it died. Our Kltham correspondent writes: is with the deepest regret that I record the death of Walter Ilorsup. aged six years,

son of Mr. Horsnp of this town, who was accidentally seriously burned a short time

ago. Another fatal tramway accident occurred at Christchurch, on Monday the 7ih of April, Harry Frost, a well-known private detective, was standing on the front platform of the tram to (Sumner, when he was thrown o!f while the car was swinging round a corner, falling on his face and shoulder. He -was taken to Sumner and attended to, but the case was hopeless, and he died soon after from his injuries. When the seven o'clock tram was coming down from Papanui to Christchurch on the sth of April, a. young woman named Mary Brown, 23 years of .age, endeavoured to jump off while the cars were in motion. She fell, and the train went over both legs, inflicting frightful injuries. .She was taken to the hospital in the amoulauce van, but died shortly after midnight. rial was the daughter of Mr. Peter Brown, Akaroa, and niece ,of Mr. Campbell Brown, Lyttelton. At the inquest on the body, the jury returned a verdict, of accidental death, no blame being attachable to anybody. On April 6, at Charlotte - street, Eden Terrace, Albeit Huxford, a nine-year-old son of Mr. Alfred Huxford, died rather unexpectedly. It seems that while playing at see-saw with some other children on the 3rd inst. the little fellow fell and injured his knee. The injury was not at, the time considered sufficiently serious to necessitate calling in a medical man, but as the boy became much worse on the 6th of April, Dr. Injjlte was summoned, but death intervened before the doctor arrived.

.The body of Mrs. Sullivan, who was lost three weeks previously, at Carterton, was found on Sunday, April 6. in a dense clump of gorse, about 500 yds from the railway line, in the opposite direction to where her bag was found. The body was much decomposed. .A Maori boy named Iria Tcnui, aged about seven years, was accidentally shot at Give on April 21, and he succumbed to his injuries to-day. A fowling piece had been left, at the side of a house, having been used for hawk shooting. Not knowing it was loaded, two Maori boys began larking with it, when the weapon went off, Iria being wounded in the left side. Dr. Linney attended the lad, but the wound was a mortal one.

There was a lively scene on April 22 at a special meeting of the Auckland Harbour Hoard. The meeting was called to frame instructions to the secretary, Mr. J. M. Brigham, whom the. Board'decided at last meeting to send to London to further negotiate with the Admiralty regarding the equipment of Calliope Dock. At the commencement of the meeting Mr. J. H. Witheford proceeded to read a letter addressed to the chairman, setting forth reasons why Mr. Brigham should not lie sent to London. 'J lie chairman ruled that the meeting being called for » special purpose they could only discuss the question of instructions to Mr. Brigham, and repeatedly asked Mr. Witheford to take his seat. This Mr. Witheford declined to do. and at times several members were on their feet at once protesting against Mr. Witheford's conduct in defying the chair. The chairman threatened to get Mr. Witheford ejected from the room, and mailers went so far that one of the Board's officials was brought to the Board room for this purpose, but eventually some sort of order was restored, and the Board proceeded to consider a. number of recommendations by a sub-committee, as to the instructions to Air. Brigham. These were opposed all through by Mr. Witheford, who had the support of Messrs. Harris. Grey, Julian, and Stichbury, hut there wire six votes on the other side and a set of instructions were adopted before the Board adjourned to meet again to consider Mr. Brigham's power of attorney and the question of his expenses.

An Order-in-Council has been passed imposing ah export duty of 2s per hundred supen -' - ' feet or. kauri timber in hitches not exceeding 30iu in width and 9in in thickness. Tin; Order-in-Cuncil issued also imposes the following export duties on kauri timber: Logs round, logs cut in half, logs squared with axe or saw, three shillings per hundred superficial feet; the same schedule of rates will be applied as in white pine.

At a meeting of the Wellington Industrial Association on Monday, April 11, it was decided that application be made for permission to hold the next industrial exhibition in Wellington in 1904, or as near thereafter as possioie. It was men tioned that practically tne whole ground used for the exhibition of 18% was still available.