ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 992, 6 March 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Ashburton, February 26. The young man Shepherd, who was injured by a fellow farm servant jumping on his back iu a lark, died yesterday. Ashburton, February 28. At the inquest on Shepherd, the evidence was to the effect that the injury was purely accidental, and was caused through larking commenced by the deceased. The deceased’s depositions confirmed this, and exonerated Smith from all blame. Nelson, February 26. Yesterday afternoon a road contractor named Robert Henry McCoombes, working at Wairoa Gorge, was pushing a piece of rock off the line of road, when he fell with it over a precipice, falling about 100 ft. Hi 3 son, who was working with him, and others found him dying when they reached him. At the iuquest to-day a verdict was returned of accidental death, resulting from fraotura of the skull and vertebra. Dunedin, March 2. The two-year-old daughter of a settler named Harwood, residing at the Kaik at the Heads, died yesterday from eating wax vestas. Hokitika, March 3. Harry Smith, a well known dairyman, living on the Bonth side of the river, was found dead on the river bank not far from where he landed by the ferry boat on Saturday. It is supposed he had a fit shortly after leaving the boat, and never recovered. The weather has been extremely boisterous during the last few days, and no one has gone near the spot. The same man had a fit in a boat about a month ago, but was observed and assistance procured and Smith was taken to the Hospital and l-ecovered. Dunedin, Maroh 4. A man named John Marrett fell a distance of 26 feet from a scaffolding last Wednesday, and received injuries to his head, which resulted in his death last night. At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned, the jury adding a rider recommending the appointment of some person whose duty it would be to see that all scaffolding should be substantial and properly fixed. (from our own correspondent.) Masterton, February 2S. A man named George Clifford, died at Masterton Hospital this morning, from injuries sustained while falliug bush at the Unper Taueru on Friday. An inaueet will be* held. His parents reside in Blenheim. Masterton, March 2. At tho inquest on the body of George Clifford, who died oa Saturday from injuries received while bushfalling, a verdict of accidental death was returned.