CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15500, 6 January 1914, Page 8

CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS

YOUTH DROWNED. CAPSIZE OF A DINGHY. COMPANIONS RESCUED. A fatal boating accident occurred at Birdkdale on Sunday afternoon, the victim being a youth named William Sutton, aged 18 yearn, and by occupation a parcel carrier employed at the Auckland Post Office.

A party of four, including the deceased, put off from the shore in a dinghy with the intention of pulling out to' s launch anchored in the stream. The dinghy capsized, and the occupants were thrown into the water, which was rough. The members of the party were fair swimmers, but it was some time before assistance arrived, and in the meantime Sutton sank and failed to reappear. The others ware exhausted when rescued. The body was recovered after an hour's dragging by the water police.

An inquest into the circumstances was opened, yesterday afternoon by Mr. D. A. Sutherland, coroner. After evidence of identification had been taken the inquest was adjourned until Thursday morning. This course was rendered necessary by the fact that some of the principal witnesses had not recovered from the effects of their ! immersion on Sunday afternoon. DRIVER'S SUDDEN DEATH. RUN OVER AND KILLED.. [BY TELEGBAPH.—OWN COBBESPONDENT. ] Raetihi, Monday. A man named Benjamin Foster, employed as a driver by the Waimarino County Council, was thrown from a loaded dray on the Farapara Road to-day. TV: vehicle passed over him, killing him almost instantly. Deceased recently arrived from Wanganui, and leaves a widow and a young family. DROWNED IK KAIPARA HARBOUR. LITTLE EVIDENCE AVAILABLE. [Br TELEQRAPH.— cobbispondbnt.] Helensvtlle, Monday. An inquest was held at Pouto on Sunday, before Mr. J. A. Wilson, J.P., acting-coroner, on the body of William Geddis Whiltaker, of Mokai, when a verdiet of death by drowning in the Kaipara Harbour was returned. < The evidence showed that the deceased was taken by a launch from Shelly Beach as near land on the Makarau side as the low state of the tide would allow, and that he thien started out in the dinghy for Makarau. He was a temperate man, in good health, and started on his self-allotted task with a full knowledge of boating and the locality. He was last seen between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on the Wednesday pulling for his destination,' but the wind was against him, and the tide going out' was also disadvantageous to him. The deceased was a clerk by profession, and had many friends in this district, where he formerly resided.

MAN'S EYE INJURED. PIN ATTACHED TO ELASTIC. [MX lELEGBAPH.—OWN COBBESPONDENT. ] Waekwoeth, Monday. A member of the Town Board, Mr. A. Warin, met with a painful accident. He was wearing his daughter's hat to protect hi 3 head from the sun's rayn while doing some work about the home. In driving a nail the hammer caught the end of the elastic, through which a pin was sticking. The elastic flew back and the pin struck him in the eye. He was advised by the local doctor to go to Auckland to consult an eye specialist. LITTLE GIRL BURNT. CONDITION IMPROVING. [BY TELEOBAPH.— COBRESPOI' TEST, J Te Aeoha, Monday. The three-year-old daughter of Mrs. Hamilton, of Te Aroha, met with a painful accident on Saturday whße playing with a little brother. The girl's clothing caught fire, and the back portion was destroyed, with the result that the little sufferer had her back burnt. Later reports state that her condition is improving.

MOTOR BAOES OVER BANE. DRIVER'S NARROW ESCAPE. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Gisborne, Monday. While motoring to the Tiniroto sports on Saturday, Mr. J. S. Cooper, of Tiniroto, had an unenviable experience and'a miraculous escape from what might have proved a fatal accident. When ascending one of the small hills on the Gisborne side of Te Reinga he attempted to work the clutch to change into low gear, but his foot by mistake also touched the lever for the reverse gear. The latter responded first, with the result that the car ran back and tipped over the bank.

The car was held up by a large tree, and Mr. Cooper was pinned beneath, in which position Iv remained for close on two hours. He succeeded ev«y>tu3lly in crawling out frrm beneath the ca «d was sitting down when two natives fire; e up in a gig and assisted Mr. Cooper i.o the roadway. The motorist's leg was badly jambed and he was brought to Gisborne for medical attention. Two of the tyres on the car were punctured.