CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 36

CASUALTIES.

A ooaoh accident happened at Konini Gorge, H. 8., op Sunday, by whioh John Simmons, groom at Ronlnl for Mr G. M'Donald, was drowned. The usual coach toad being impassable, s drag with five horses, driven by Gf. fil'Donajd, together with the usual pasienget coaob, driven by A. Knox, endeavoured to comp down the old river route. After negotiating what is ooniiderad tbe most difficult portion of the road, including four orossing», Konini Gorge" was reached in safety, when tbe drag (acting as pilot for the coaoh) attempted tne gorge, which appeared to be quite safe. The horaes almost immediately got out of their depth, and the drag was instantly submerged. Simmons struck out for the shore, and when last seen was swimming with the greatest confidence towards the bank. The two wheelers were drowned, bufc the three leaders managed to detach fchemselvei from the coach, and two of fchem escaped. No fears were entertained for Simmons by either M'Donald or Enox, he being a good swimmer, and it was not UD *'il they regained a position of safety that his disappearance was discovered. It is surmised that, the water being terribly cold, he was seized with oramp. The body has nob been recovered. Mr W. J. Cooper, a chemist, residing st Sydenham, died in the Christohuruh hospital on tho 23rd from the effects of an overdone of laudanum. An inquest was commenced at Waimate on the 53rd on the body of Dunoan GQuld, 'aged 75, who died iv the hospital on the 21st from the effects of frost-bite. Both feet and hands were terribly frost-bitten. Deceased was a blacksmith, and is thought to have relations in Southland. , • Mr Joseph Ferris, goldmine r, Waitabuna Gully, met with a seveie accident on Thursday through a fall of earth. Hit collarbone and some ribs were broken. He was carried home on a stretcher and attended to by a doctor from Lawrence. Frederick Gray, aged 16, third son of Mr C. Gray, of Hoteo, North Ksipara, was drowned in the Hoteo river while going down tho river on a large log after rafting some logs. He could not swim. An accident happened in the Eeep-it-Dark mine, Reef ton, on Friday, A new poppet-head, 35ft high, was put up en Thursday, and ib was necessary for staying the derrick on top to lift besrers for the pulleys. John M'Lean, Alexander White, tnd Frank Callighan went on top, and were hauling up tho c»p piece when the guy rope broke, and the whole structure collapsed. M'Lean had a leg broken and White was injured in the back, but Callighan was only slightly injured. Two legs of the poppet-head were smashed. Charlotte Maria Hill, a widow, 71 years of ape, was found doad in bed at ber residence, Chrutchurch, on Sunday. When she retired on the previous night the was apparently in her usual health, but ihe suffered from heart disease. ' Mrs Williamson, 66 years of age, wife of a retired stonemason, died suddenly at St. Albans, Christchurch, on Monday evening. ' A womin named Elizabeth Aim Davis, aged 64 years, died suddenly on Saturday evening at the residence of a son, with whom she was stayiog, in Stnart street. She had been in delicate health for some time, bub no doctor ' had been in attendance. An inquest was beld at tbe Magistrate's Court on Monday, before Mr E. H. Cftrew (coroner) and a jury of «x. Dr Macpherson gave evidence taat the woman was an inmate of tbe Dunedin Hospital from December 27, 1895, Mil March of the present I year. She h&'d suffered ' from a stroke of i apoplexy. He had no doubt that death was due to oerebral apoplexy. Evidence was also adduced to the effect that deceased was .63. years of age. She was born in Kent, England, and bad been 23 years in the colony. A verdict in tocordance with the medical testimony was returned. While firing was going on at Mount Eden range* Auckland, on Saturday, Sergeant-majur Doughty of A Battery, while marking, was accidentally wounded by a splinted bullet on the head and eyelid. He had been previously hurt on the hand. It appears that the guards to tbe targets have fallen into disrepair, and it is alleged that representations to the authorities an to their dangerous condition have remained unattended to. It is now proposed to cease using tha range till protective measures are adopted