ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20006, 25 January 1927, Page 13

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

WASHED OFF ROOKS. ONE MAN DROWNED. (Peb United Peess Association.) ' ' DARGAVILLE, January 24. Edward O’Neill, storekeeper at Donnelly** Crossing, . and Thomas Leigh, station master, went on a fishing excursion to Maunganui Bluff on Sunday. While fishing off the rocks a huge wave came up and washed both off. Leigh managed to srtuggle ashore, but his companion was not seen again, and the body has not been recovered. Deceased was a married mam of about 40, with a wife and family of four young children. He was particularly well known in the district, having filled a number of responsible positions. The bluff an exceptionally dangerous spot when the sea is rough lor fishing. Several people have lost their lives there. MOTOR LOR AY SOMERSAULTS. (Peb United Phees Association.) HASTINGS, January 24. A motor lorry with food for the Post and Telegraph picnic yesterday met with an accident while negotiating a steep hill on the way to Waimarama beach. .The brakes failed to act just before a hairpin bond was reached, and the car went into a bank at the bend with such force that it flung out the occupants and somersaulted twice before it came to rest on its wheels at a fence. .... ~ Miss Ray Svmes received a broken collarbone, Pat Hassett and Arthur Wardrop (telegraph boys) a broken leg and arm respectively. Tnree others received minor injuries. FATALLY BURNED, (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, January 24. An inquest on the body of Uougald Grant, aged seven years and a-half ? who died on January '2O at the Wellington Hospital, whore ho was admitted suffering from burns, was held to-day before Mr E. Page, S.M. Hanna Uranii6y gave evidence tnat wie deceased had come to her house about-9.20 a.m. on January 17 to play with her children. After they had been playing for some time witness heard a scream and saw the boy’s clothes alight. He was yearing a fancy dress suit, and witness later found matches in his pockets. . Rawina Bramley, who was playing with Uougald Grant, said that she saw two dead matches in his hand, mut they had not been lighting any matches. Charles Henry Grant, the father of the deceased, said that he afterwards found two matches in the pockets of his son s clothes. .... A verdict of accidental death waa returned. KNOCKED DOWN BY MOTOR LORRY. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, January 24. An inquiry into the death of Alexander Williamson, aged 72, who was knockeo down by a motor lorry in Kent terrace on December 14 and died at the Wellington Hospital on December 19, was conducted by Mr E. Page, S.M., to-day. The driver of the motor lorry, Arthur Charles Archer, said that at about 3.45 p.m. on December 14 he was driving his vehicle along Kent terrace towards the Basin Reserve, , M hen the lorry was appreaching a tram stop the deceased stepped out quickly from behind a pillarbox, Witness applied the brakes, but one of the mudguards struck Williamson on the right side. Witness took the deceased to his home, and he said he required no medical attention. Subsequently he visited Williamson who appeared to be in a normad state of health. When he called again, however, he learned that - Williamson had died at the hospital. * The coroner’s finding was that the deceased died from heart failure brought about by degeneration of the heart muscles, accelerated by injuries received through his being knocked down accidentally oy a motor lorry. ASPHYXIATED BY GAS. (Peb United P*iess Association.) HOKITIKA, January 24. Henry Shand, aged 35, a returned soldier, employed as a cycle repairer, was found dead in his shop at two o'clock this afternoon with a gas tube in his mouth and the gas turned on.