CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2403, 22 March 1900, Page 17

CASUALTIES.

Intelligence has been received from Waitakerei, on the West Coast, of the drowning of Louis White, aged 22, son of Mr Samuel White, contractor, Auckland, on the 12th, at Karekare Bay. The family -were camping out there, and deceased was fishing on a rock. The family climbed further up the rocks, and on looking round saw that he had disappeared off the rock. His brother-in-law rushed down to the beach, and saw the young man in the pea, but, being unable to swim, could not rescue him. His father next came, and lumped in and dived, but failed to eet the body, through the undertow. He had difficulty in reaching the shore himself. The body has not been recovered. It is stated that deceased was subject to fits.

A young man named Harold Tennant, a letter-carrier in the New Plymouth post office, while cycling on the 12th inst., came into collision with a spring trap through the horse shying. He received a severe blow from the shaft, and was thrown heavily on the footpath. Internal complications arose, and the poor young fellow died next evening. A body was found in Wellington Harbour on the 13th. on which a letter was found addressed "Mr F. Mollison, second steward steamer Karamea." Before the departure cf the Karamea for London on Saturday previous the captain reported Mollison as missing-. The deceased was about 27 years of age.

On Sunday night a man named Robert Kernohan was found lying in an unconscious state on the road at Winchester. Medical examination showed that he was suffering from concussion of the brain, which miprht terminate fatally. It is conjectured that the horse he was riding over-reached and fell, throwing the unfortunate man with violence on the metalled road. — Timaru Herald.

A man named John Heartley, a seaman, met with liis death while presumably bathing in the surf at St. Olair on the 13th. The circumstances attending the matter are somewhat unusual, and it is not definitely known if death was due to drowning or some natural tfause. The man was seen about 1 o'clock to undress himself on the beach opposite the esplanade, and go into the water. He rolled about amongst the waves for some time, and then stood up. He was afterwards seen to apparently fall down, and his body was drifted on to the beach. It was picked up by some onlookers, and as life was not then extinct medical assistance was summoned. Dr Watt, of the contingent, at the Forbury Park, and a party of men with a stretcher arrived, but it was found that the unfortunate man was beyond all human assistance. Deceased was 45 or 50 years of age. He was a native of Preston, Lancashire, England, and came out to the colony in the s.s. Himu. Of late he had been employed in the capacity of night watchman on that vessel. He had given way to drink a good deal of late. The wheel of a cart which was being driven along King street on the 14th inst. by a man named William Summers came off, and Summers was thrown on to his head and sustained a cut over the eye. He was taken to the hospital, and had his wounds attended to.

A man named David Evans was burnt in his hut at the Paclolus, West Coast, on tho sth inst., by the ignition of a tin of benzine, the explosion of which appears to have caused a shock from which he never rallied. His injuries were very extensive, and he succumbed on Friday evening, 9th.

An inquest was held at Outram on Saturday on the body of a Chinaman named Ah Kin, who was found dead in his bed on the previous Wednesday at Deep Stream. A yei I-

diet of death from natural causes was re turned. Mr Roache was commended by th^ ' jury for walking to Outram, a distance ol 26 miles, to inform the police of the matter Mr David M'Gregor, farmer, and an old resident of St. Clair, died at his residence suddenly at half-post 1 o'clock on Wednesday morning at the advanced age of 72. He had been sufficiently strong on the preceding day to engage in work in the harvest field. During the night he suddenly took ill, and befor* his family could summon assistance he expired. Death is supposed to have been dua to the bursting of a blood vessel. John Atkins died at Christchurch on Sat1 urday from injuries sustained while working at a traction engine. At the inquest on young White, drowned at Karekare Bay, a verdict was returned of accidentally drowned, j The body of Alexander Whiskers, missed recently from a vessel trading to Kaipara; was found up the Northern Wairoa. Harata Herona, a half-caste, was killed by the capsizing of a dray at Gisborne on Monday. The thirteen-year-old boy of Louis Louisson was found drowned in the Maitai, whither he had gone to bathe, this afterwhither he had gone to bathe, on Monday. About 12 o'clock on Saturday night Richard Holley, aged 50, a settler' in Awahoa block, Pohangina, committed suicide by shooting himself with a rifle. It is alleged that Holly had a quarrel with his son, after which he took his life. The police report that there are no suspicious' circumstances in connection with the case