KILLED BY TREE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21803, 18 May 1934, Page 8

KILLED BY TREE

YOUNG MAN ON FARM LARGE RIMU UPROOTED STRUCK BY FALLING BRANCH SETTLERS' ARDUOUS TASK [by TELEGRAPH —I'RESS association] MASTERTON, Thursday A young man, Mr. Neil George McKay, aged years, was killed on his farm at Alfreclton to-day wlien lie was struck by the limb of a falling tree. A wind of almost gale force uprooted a large riniu tree, a branch of which struck .Mr. McKay when he stepped out of a near by tent. Death is thought to have been instantaneous. The fatality occurred in very rough country, and settlers had an arduous task in bringing the body to the homestead . Mr. McKay was a Bush representative Rugby player and was a member of a well-known Gladstone family. FISHERMEN RESCUED SUMNER LIFEBOAT'S WORK FIGHT AGAINST GREAT SEAS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION"] CHRISTCHTJRCH, Thursday The lifeboat crew at Sumner had to brave one of the roughest seas and heaviest southerly storms ever experienced on the coast to-night, when it went to the rescue of the crews of two fishing boats which were in danger. The two boats left the estuary this morning to fish at Port Levy. They were returning this evening when they were caught in the storm. They ran for shelter in Lyttelton Harbour, but a sudden change of the wind to the south-west compelled them to seek insecure shelter under the heads.

The lighthouse-keeper warned the lifeboat at Sumner, and the boat went out. After a tremendous figljjb against the heavy seas the fishing boats were reached. They were anchored and the life-boat brought off the four men on board, but left the boats. If the wind stays in the present quarter, the south-west, the boats may ride out the storm, but if it changes to the south-east, as seems possible, the boats may never be seen again. The four men rescued were JMessrs. H. Parker, J. Williams, J. Jull and 35. Ellison.