FATAL PLUNGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22346, 18 February 1936, Page 10

FATAL PLUNGE

DKAY FALLS IN RIVEK ONE OCCUPANT DROWNED COMPANION INJURED SCOURED BANK GIVES WAY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] MASTERTON. Monday When a horse and dray went over a 25ft. bank this afternoon into the Waingawa River one of the occupants, Mr. Timothy Manion, aged about 47 years, was drowned, and his companion, Mr. Angus McCauley, received internal injuries and is in hospital. The river bank, which had been scoured away by a flood, gave way under the weight of the dray, which fell into 7ft. of water. Mr. McCauley managed to crawl about a mile for assistance, but Mr. Manion was dead when removed from the river. Tho horse broke two legs and was destroyed. Mr. Manion was single and had no known relatives in New Zealand. FARMER'S TRAGIC DEATH DISCOVERY BY NEIGHBOUR [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] STRATFORD, Monday

As the result of a horse displaying unusual interest in something in a gully by the roadside on the way to the dairy factory at Stratford this morning, Mr. Charles Nielsen looked over the edge and saw his neighbour, Mr. John P. Bonner, lying dead under a horae and cart. Mr. Bonner, a married man, aged 69, with a large adult family, had set off for the factory at 8 a.m. and was found 20 minutes later. Marks at the roadside indicated that the horse had had a struggle before going over the edge. It is thought possible that Mr. Bonner had a seizure and falling back with the reins in his hands had deflected the animal over the brink. Although there was a drop of 25ft. the horse was not injured.