FARMER KILLED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22824, 7 March 1936, Page 7

FARMER KILLED

DRAY CAPSIZES FALL OVER EMBANKMENT A tragic fatality occurred at North Branch, near Milton, about 7 o'clock on Thursday evening, when Andrew Melville, a single man, aged 33, a well-known farmer of the Milton district, was instantaneously killed as a result of a dray capsizing. Mr Melville had been assisting a neighbouring farmer (Mr R. Cowie) to gather in his crop of oats. The work was completed about 7 p.m., and Mr Melville was returning • home', driving the dray with two horses, both quiet animalß. When travelling down an incline the dray suddenly swerved to the right. Mr Melville attempted to pull the animals back on to the road, but both horsc9 and dray went over the bank on the emoankment —a drop of about six feet. Mr Melville endeavoured to jump clear, but was pinned beneath the overturned dray. Assistance was immediately rendered by Mr J. M'Elwain (manager of Mr Cowie's farm) and Mr'H. C. Clack (ploughman), who had been working with Mr Melville, but death must have been instantaneous, as the deceased'? neck was broken. Mr Melville was a son of Mrs and the late Mr Andrew. Melville, old-time settlers of Milton district, and he waa highly esteemed for his quiet and unassuming disposition. He took an active interest in Oddfellowship, and was a Past Grand officer of Loyal Milton Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F.