KAITANOATA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1583, 25 March 1882, Page 13

KAITANOATA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

March 22nd.

On Wednesday evening last a Ead accident happened to Mr Charles Lennon, of the firm of Hislop and Co., storekeepers here, which has, unhappily, terminated fatally. The unfortunate man had gone to Wangaloa in the morning, the spring-cart ho had with him being well loaded with goods. His not returning in the evening did not cause any apprehensions as to his safety, because Mr Hislop, who usually goes to Wangaloa, had been aecuatomed to stay all night with one of the settlers when unable to get through his business before nightfall, and ho thought Mr Lennon was doing the same. In the morning, however, he was found lying in a gully alongside the road, less than half a mile from the ,township, quite unconscious, having evidently lain there all night. The night was very dark, whloh account* for the fact that the accident was not discovered sooner, because two men are known to have passed the spot after it had occurred, besides in daylight the place is visible from some parts of the township, and a, house occupied by a Mrs Lewis, stands only a 100 hundred yards or so away; this woman declares she heard a noise proceed from the direction of the scene of the accident, but did not attach any importance to it ; thus it came that the poor fellow lay there through the night, which besideß being dark, was cold and showery As soon as he was found, he was removed to his lodgings, where Dr Robertson attended to him, but though everything that skill or kindness could suggest was tried, it was in vain ; he never rallied, thoughjhe lingered in an unconscious state till Saturday morning, when he expired. The sad event has thrown quite a gloom over the township, Mr Lennon having made many friends during the year he has been in the district. All who cave come in contact with him either in business or in the social circle, have never failed to be charmed by his quiet gentlemanly demeanour, or won by his kindly and obliging disposition. His untimely death, Hn the full vigour ,of early manhood, is deeply deplored by everyone who knew him, and he will be missed at the local concerts and entertainments, in which his services were always highly appreciated. After the inquest the body was removed to Dunedin for interment, and on reaching Stirling station one of the most melancholy incidentsin connection with this most melancholy affair occurred. There the funeral cortege was met by the aged father of the deceased, who had just come over from Anstralia to visit his son. Poor old man ! it must havo been a bitter disappointment to him to find that he would never «cc his son again, and that insjtead of the warm greeting he would no douhfc have met with, he could only mourn over the lifeless clay as it was laid to rest in the silent grave. It appears that the accident arose through the breaking of some part of the harness, in coming down the hill just above the township, which caused the horse— a young one, not Jong broken to harness — to bolt, and go over a steep siding, thus capsizing the trap and throwing Mr Lennon upon his head, causing concussion of the brain. The horse and trap were f ouud about a chain further down the gully, the horse with its neck broken, and the trap smashed, and the goods it contained scattered about. The verdict returned at the inquest was one of "accidental death," a rider being added to the effect "that all vehicles should have a brake attached to them, when going ovor the Wangaloa Hill." This is a very dangerous road, particularly on a dark night, or in winter time. Perhaps the Road Board might do worse than erect a strong fence at the worst parts ; it would certainly tend to prevent such another accident happening, and it would not be very expensive. On Sunday afternoon a thunderstorm of remarkable severity swept over tho district, accompanied by a perfect delugo of rain and hail, which in a tew minutes filled every hollow, while sueli was the force of the wind, that tho roof was torn off at leasfc ono. building, somo of tbo sheets of iron being carried 40 50 yards away. It did not last moro than an hour, yet in that time a considerable amount of damago has been done.