CASUALTIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11858, 8 October 1900, Page 3

CASUALTIES.

(Pee United Pbess Association.)

GISBORNE, October 6.

A well-known commercial traveller, Thomas Robertson; representative of J. Speight ancl Co., died suddenly at the Masonic Hotel from au epileptic fit. The deceased was well known in Dunedin. •

CHRISTCHURCH, October 7. , During the progress of a fire at Sydenham Engineer AVilliam Abbott, of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, fell down in a fainting fit while driving the "Extinguisher" engine. He was carried into a shop close by, and medical aid summoned, but he expired without regaining consciousness. He had been in the brigade a number of years, and leaves a wife and five young children. .'. Yesterday afternoon a little son of Mr Rhodes, of Sydenham, got a piece of carrot stuck in. his throat, and although he was quickly taken to the hospital, the obstruction could not be removed before the child was asphyxiated.

. The little boy Harold Cooper, who was run oyer by a tramcar iv Richmond on Thursday, died yesterday from the effects. At the inquest a verdict of. accidental death was returned, no blame being attachable to anyone.'

• News has boen received in Dunedin of a distressing accident, by which a promising young man, named John P. Crawford, son of Mr P. Crawford, Hyde street, Dunedin, lost his life. Young Crawford was a fireman on board the s.s. Peregrine, trading between Sj-dney ancl the Gulf of Carpentaria, but was formerly for seme time employed in the same capacity in some of tlie L^nion Steam Ship Company's boats, including the Mararoa. It seems that during the voyage made at the end of September the weather was both hot and stormy, and Crawford, unablo to bear tlie heat below, ran up for a breath of fresh air. As he reached the bulwarks the ship gavo a lurch, precipitating the unfortunate young- fellow overboard, and he was scon no more. A boat was lowered and three lifebelts thrown over; but, though the steamer was stopped for an hour, tho search was fruitless. Crawford was a favourite with all with whom ho was brought in.contact, as he was an honourable and upright young fellow, and his former shipmates in the Union Steam Shin Company's "service wilMearn of his.death with feelings of genuine sorrow.

' -— There is a large increase in the consumption of tea in the United Kingdom, which now amounts to over 61b yearly per head of the population. The higher grades of tea are, moreover, in little demand in Great Britain and Ireland. ' Forty-eight million pounds of tea were exported from Foochow last year, as against forty-one millions in the previous •year. :"'■■'■■ Redcliffe Crown' Brand Galvanised Iron is the ii'Oß.t" '.iss. ia sxoosed nositions.