CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1853, 27 May 1887, Page 17

CASUALTIES.

The body of John M'Donald, a patient in the Christchurch Hospital, was found in the Avon on Friday, and he is supposed to have committed suicide. He was seen half-an-hour before by an attendant, and then seemed to be all right.

The Mount Ida Chronicle reports that a hawker named William Attridge met with rather a serious accident at Kyeburn diggings lately. He was crossing the river, when one of the wheels of his trap broke down, whereupon one of the horses bolted, dragging the other a short distance till it fell heavily, receiving injuries from which it subsequently died. The result of the shock was such as to throw Attridge violently into the river, and he received serious injuries.

A serious but, fortunately, not fatal accident occurred on the lower Portobeilo road, near Waverley, on Tuesday morning. The three omnibuses, two, belonging to Mr Richmond, and the other, the mail , coach, belonging to Mr Hewitt, were coming to town, Mr Richmond's leading. The hindermost of Mr Richmond's vehicles stopped at the Waverley trough to give the horses a drink. Mr Hewitt, who was driving his own omnibus, thinking that there was room to pass, drove on, but, either through want of\ space or pulling the wrong rein, upset his omnibus over the bank: The coach and horses fell clear of the bank into the water, the driver and three box passengers being thrown into the sea, but a lady and child, who were inside, were not so lucky, as they received several cuts and bruises. The omnibus was a good deal damaged, but the horses escaped without injury. It was almost a miracle that no one was killed, as the bank is very steep and the water was not deep enough to break the fall very much. The drivers of the other coaches rendered every assistance, and brought the passengers into town.

Messrs Mort and Co., Sydney, announce their annual stud sheep sales for the sth July.

Messrs Donald Reid and Co. will sell a freehold farm at Kaitangata on Saturday, 4th June, at Watson's Hotel, Dunedin.

Mr Frederick Singer invites tenders for the purchase of the lease of his grazing run at Mount Hyde. Particulars will be found elsewhere.

— A burglar who was doing a neat job on a large safe was horrified, on looking up, to see a man standing quietly beside him. He was about to retire, when the gentleman said : — " Go ahead, I am interested in that job." " Why ?" asked the astonished burglar. " Because I have lost the key. If you can get that safe open I'll make it worth your while." '