INQUESTS IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17755, 14 April 1921, Page 6

INQUESTS IN AUCKLAND.

AVONDALE BUS FATALITY.

AN ACCIDENTAL OCCURRENCE An adjourned inquest was held by Mr. W. R. MuKean, 8.M., yesterday concerning the death of the tfoy Andrew J. Strong, wno died at the Auckland Hospital last Sunday morning from injuries received from falling from, the Blockhouse Bay motor-bus in Manukau Road, AvondaJe, on the previous day. Frank William White, who drove the motor-bus between Avondale and Blockhouse Bay on Saturday, leaving Avondale about noon, said two small boySj of whom deceased was one, had been sitting in the bus. When the passengers arrived he told them to go, and they went, as rain was falling. All the curtains on the bus were tied down, except one on the left side where the passengers got in. Witness returned from Blockhouse Bay at i 2.40 p.m. He was then told that he had run over a little boy. He went to a house, and recognised the injured boy as one who had been sitting in the busWitness had no idea where the accident occurred. There were 15 or 16 passengers in the bus going out. He travelled at between 10 and 15 miles an hour. John H. P. Chappell, labourer, a passenger on the bus, said he heard the driver tell the boys to go. He did not see them on the bus after it started. He first heard of the accident that night. Percy E. Jounie said he was in his- gig at the station when the bus left, and shortly afterwards saw someone on the step on the left side. He did not see the boy fall off the bus, but saw him picked up about 100 yards along the road. Thomas W. Hewitt, sawmill employee, said ho saw the bus pass, and immediately afterwards saw the boy lying on the road. The boy said he had fallen off the bus. A verdict was returned that, death was due to shock following injuries received through filling off the motor-bus. No blame was attachable to the driver.

FATALITY ON A STEAMER.

PAINTER FALLS DOWN HOLD

The fatality on the steamer Admiral Codrmgton at Calliope Dock on April 6 when a painter, Mr. Arthur Edward Fenton, lost his life, was the subject'of another inquest held by Mr. McKean. Mr. Ostler appeared on behalf of deceased's employer, and Mr. Cahill for deceased's relations. Deceased was engaged on the vessel, and his body was found in one of the holds on Wednesday morniing April 7. Dr. D. N. W. Murray stated that death, due to compound fracture of the skull. together with injuries to the lungs and kidneys, would be instantaneous. The injuries rould only have been caused by a fall. Evidence was given that deceased's coat was found hanging up between decks. No one had seen him going for his coat and bag. No painters had been employed inside the vessel that day, and orders had been given that thev wore all to hang their clothes in the dressing shed provided. Two shipwrights expressed the opinion that deceased was crossing some bags of sawdust on the hatch when one slipped, precipitating him into the hold. One witness said it was dark then between decks, and someone had held a covering of the hatch aside so that he could see. The lighting between decks was very bad. There were no lights. The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to,injur:es 'caused by deceased falling from the hatchwav down the hold.