SERIES OF ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15824, 22 January 1915, Page 6

SERIES OF ACCIDENTS.

GISBORNE DROWNING CASE.

SURF BATHER LOST.

ANOTHER'S NARROW ESCAPE.

[BT TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION*.]

Gisborxe, Thursday. A surf-bathing fatality occurred on the Waikanao Beach this afternoon, the victim being Mr. Herbert McLean, North Island traveller for Messrs. Griffin and Sons, of Nelson. A beach fete, was n progress, and hundreds of people were about at the time. Efforts at rescue were unavailing, as Mr. McLean was not seen after he first sank. The body has not yet been recovered.

Another commercial traveller. Mr. Gilchrist, who was bathing with Mr. McLean, had a very narrow escape, being rescued at the last gasp. A heavy surf was running, as the result of a marine disturbance, and several other parties were in trouble, including the life-saving team while, giving a demonstration with its reel.

A Press Association telegram from Nelson states that Mr. McLean was a native of Melbourne, where his relatives, except for two brothers in New Zealand, reside. Ho was 29 years of age, and had been in the firm's employ for 12 months. Mr. McLean was a single man, but was shortly to have been married.

FATAL FALL FROM A OAST.

RESULT OF A BOULDER. [BY TELEGRArH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Thursday. An inquest was held last night on the body of the boy Andrew Chas. Domingo, who was run over by a milk-cart that he was driving at Omahu on Tuesday, and who died at the Thames Hospital yesterday. Mr. Rumble, a farmer at Omahu, who witnessed the accident, stated that deceased was driving home from the Wharepoa Creamery at a trotting pace, and was sitting on the shaft. After going a few yards the wheel of the cart struck a boulder on the side of the road, and the jolt which followed precipitated the boy from the shaft on to the road immediately in front of the wheel, which passed over his body. The boy attempted to get up, but was unable to do so. Dr. Lapraik, who was summoned, advised the boy's removal to the hospital, where he died.

A verdict of accidentally killed was returned.

FATALITY AT A QUARRY.

NO TERSON TO BLAME.

[BT TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.']

Gisborne, Thursday.

At tho adjourned inquest concerning the death of James Arthur Green and Archie Bugden, who succumbed to injuries received in an explosion at the Patutahi quarry on January 6, the county engineer stated that Green had been foreman at the quarry for 12 years. He was a thoroughly capable man, and took every reasonable precaution in blasting. The mode of operation was that a hole was first drilled in the rock and then a small charge of gelignite was put in for the purpose of " bullying " out a cavity or chamber, then after about half-an-hour the usual charge of blasting powder was inserted. Witness said that since the accident he had instructed the foreman not to put the powder charge in the hole until the day after the gelignite had been used.

The coroner found that deceased were killed by blasting, and that there was no evidence to show that any blame was attachable to anyone.

SHOT IN THE LEO.

ACCIDENT WITH REVOLVER. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchcrch, Thursday. A shooting accident occurred at Ashley Gorge last evening, Rev. A. Mitchell, Methodist minister, of Lyttelton, who was camping at the gorge with his family, being accidentally shot in the left leg owing to a revolver, which his son was cleaning, exploding. MOTOR-CAB ACCIDENT. MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED. ,[dt telegraph.—press association.] Ikverc vrgilLj Thursday. A corporation employee, named Neil Nielsen, a married map 50 years of age, was admitted to the Southland Hospital to-day suffering from a scalp wound. He is still unconscious and the details are unavailable, but it is believed that he was knocked down by a motor-car.