ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18157, 31 January 1921, Page 6

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

CHINESE LAUNDRYMAN’S DEATH,

(Per United Press Association.) TIMARU, January 30.

An inquest was held to-day into the death of Yeek Fat, a Chinese laundryman, who had been in business in Stafford street for four months, and who slashed his throat with a razor yesterday afternoon. His father-in-law, who resided with him, went upstairs to fetch him to deal with customers, and found him on the floor in a pool of blood. The police and a doctor were sent for, and the latter said deceased’s windpipe and arteries had been severed. A verdict was returned accordingly. The deceased was about 45 years of age, and his wife and family live in China, His father-in-law said he was in good spirits shortly before, and he had tfmever complained of ill-health. He was doing well in business, but was in debt to witness and others for a few hundred pounds.

FISHING PARTY MISSING,

BELIEVED TO BE DROWNED

(Per Unitf.d Press Association,'

MASTERTON, January 30.

What is feared to be a most distressing fatality occurred to-day at the Castlepoint seaside resort, 45 miles from ■ Masterton. Four well-known residents of Masterton set out in a flat-bottomed boat early in the morning on a fishing expedition near the lighthouse. The members of the party— Ivan O’Connor, Clarence Hopkins, ,R. Briggs, and H. Wooding—were all married men. A heavy sea was experienced outside. and tho boat swamped and upset. The boat subsequently was seen drifting out to sea with three men clinging to the bottom. When last seen the boat was enveloped in mist/ going north in the direction of Mataikona. It is feared that all hands were lost. Search parties from Masterton and the district are searching the beach for bodies.

(Peb United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 30. The body of an unknown man, about 60 years of age, was found in the harbour yesterday. It had been immersed only a few hours.

A boy named Graham Appleby, five years of ago, whose parents reside in Kirkcaldy street, ’South Dunedin, was admitted to ths Hospital yesterday afternoon suffering from a fractured leg. The lad was staying with relatives at Wharetoa, and the accident was caused through falling when out walking.

Papua, according to Judge Murray, the Lieutenant-Governor, who arrived in Melbourne last week, on an official visit to the Prime Minister, is in a flourishing condition (says the Melbourne Herald). From time to time there has been agitation at Port Moresby against Judge Murray, and some citizens are reported to have made representations to the King to have him removed from office. In an interview he denied the allegations of preferential treatment of the Asiatics. There was a shortage of coloured labour. Native labour last year had decreased, he said, by more than 2000 as compared with the previous yea*, and 6597 as compared with 8619 for 1918. The figures for 1918 were the largest on record. Various causes had been suggested to account fdt the diminution. The bad rice had a good deal to do with it, as the labourers had not taken kindly to the substituted foods. “ Last year,” continued Judge Murray, “has been a satisfactory one as far as finance is concerned, and revenue derived from Customs duty and local revenue amounted to just on £BO,OOO, as compared with £60,984 for the previous year, repreaenting an increase of 20 per cent.”