CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2676, 28 June 1905, Page 32

CASUALTIES.

An inquest was Tieldi at Te Karaka, Poverty Bay, concerning the- death of a girl named Annie Barrington. She stayed with her aunt, and, it being washing day, said she would go to the well for water. Her aunt asked her not to go, but she did so, and was found shortly after in a stone we'll, about 4-ft deep, with 2ft of water in it. She was subject to fits, and was apparently dead when found. The aunt made unsuccessful efforts to get the body out, and then called a Native woman who was at the house. They succeeded. A chemist was promptly called in (there being no doctor nearer than Gisborne), but the girl was found to be beyond aid. The father, a road contractor, is in the Gisborne Hospital suffering from serious injury to his arm, and the mother of the girl is dead. A verdict was returned that death was caused by drowning. At the inquest on Mifca H-ei-ini. who was found dead in a police cell on Sunday morning, the evidence wont to show that deceased suffered from pleurisy and Bright's disease, and a verdict was returned to the effect that death was due to natural causes.

A man named Otto Holm met with an accident at Reid's flaxniill at Otokia on the 20th, by which his left arm was broken and sligHtly lacsrabed. He was brought into town in the evening and taken to the Hospital. Mr Fletcher, accountant in the National Bank a-t Greymouth, and Mr Mair, teller in tlic Bank of New Zealand at Holoitika, had an eventful experience on Monduy, week, the latter having a narrow escape from drowning. Mr Fletcher and Mr Mair were cycling from the Otira, and all weal well until they reached the Waiuiliini Stream, which was slightly swollen. They attempted to ford the stream, but Mr Mair, who was in front, immediately got into difficulties, losing his footing and being carried a considerable distance down stream before he regained the land in an exhausted condition. His bicycle was carried half v mile, but it was afterwards recovered.

Dr Fieldstadfc died suddenly at Rotorua on Wednesday. He had been confined to bed since Monday night, and become- unconscious on Wednesday. Drs Wohlmann and Craig were in attendance. A sister, who resides in Sydney, was cabled for. Death occurred sooner than was anticipated. Deceased ate a. hearty dinner as usual oa Monday. Ohas. Goldup. of Toko, aged 16 years, while climbing; a. tree 'for a uigi&on he had shot in the l>u=h a<t Whangamamona was killed by the accidental discharge of his gun. which he had loft leaning against the tree with the muzzle pointed upwards.

On Wednesday a miner named Willia-m Richardson accidentally fell down a pass at the Waihi mine. He was picked up 70it below unconscious, with a fracture of the bass elf the skull and other injuries. His condition is precarious. Daniel Lang, an elderly gumdiggor. while asleep on the platform of the Waro Station, near Hikurangi, Auckland, was struck on the head by an engine of the evening train on Wednesday, and killed instantaneously. A fire, which was unfortunately attended by fatal results, occurred at Mosgiel early on Thursday morning, an old man named Kobt. Aiikea being. Jauxufid to, d,eath. Aitfce.ii,. who

•was about 70 rears of age. occupied a small ccttage or hut m Church street, Mosgiel, and about 3.30 a.m. this building was discovered t-> be on 'fire. How the fire originated is not knowr, but the body of Aitken ■was found amongst die nuns, and it is surmised that he may have upaet a light, or fire may hay« been communicated to the woodwork from the fireplace, and Aitk-en, who was very . feeble, may have been too weak to effect his escape iv time. The unfortunate man was very badly burned, both his legs and one of his arms being severed from his body. Aitken lived by himself, and had no relatives in Mosgiel. An inquest was held at 3.15 on Thursday afternoon before Ma- H. Y. TYiddowson (coroner) and a jury of six, of whom Mr MAdam was chosen foreman. After evidence had been given, the jury returned a verdict to tire effect that the deceased was found burned to death in his hut, which was destroyed by fire on the 22nd inst., but that there was no evidence to show how the fire occurred.

Herbert Derain, aged seven, died in the surgery of Dr M. Pureh.as, Auckland, after an operation for nose trouble. Chloroform was administered, and the growth removed. Tho boy recovered consciousness, but a few minutes later breathing- ceased, and efforts to restore respiration failed. At the inquest the death was attributed by three medical men to the action of chloroform on the respiratory centres of the brain, the child being in delicate health. A verdict of '1 Death from misadventure*' was returned.

A young woman named Maggie Milfred, 18 years of age, attempted to commit suicide at Greymouth by jumping over the wharf. The river was in flood at the time. A young man named Scott managed to gee her out. The unfortunate woman was taken to the hospital. Scott is to be- commended for his prompt and plucky action. During the voyage of th© Ayrshire from Capetown to Adelaide a steerage passenger named Parry died suddenly. The man boarded the vessal at Liverpool, and leaves a widow and two children in that city. The body was buried at sea. An elderly man — Patrick Callaghan — was brought into Gisborne Hospital, supposed to be suffering from rheumatic fever. The doctor found that he was affected by lockjaw resulting from a splinter of wood in a finger. The man is in a critical condition. Callaghan died at the hospital. Mrs Stephen James, 73 years of age, wife of a farmer at Wairio, Southland, was unyoking a horse on Thursday evening, when it lashed out and struck her behind the ear. She died three hours later.

Mr Robert Rogers, .one of the directors of the Taieri and Peninsula Milk Supply Company, died suddenly on Friday morning 1 shortly after 8 o'clock, while being driven into town from his home, near Sandymount. Mr John Riddell, a son of the manager of the company, was with him in the trap, "when he fell forward and died. Dr Coughtrey was called in as soon as possible, but could do little more than certify, that death was due to heart disease. Deceased had not been complaining: of any illness, but was suffering from tho effects 'of a slight cold. Mr Rogers, who was 67 years of age, leaves a widow and several sons and daughters. He has tw<> "brothers living, one on tho Peninsula and the other in the Catling district.

An inquest was held at 'Newmarket.. Auclklfiud, on Saturday, into flic ciroumstanros connected with fho death of a five-months-old child named Forbes Leslie- OR'ing. Tho mother said tho oliilci hudi been brought up on tho botll'O from «■ fnw day* after its birth, and hud always appeared to be an extremely healthy child. At. midnight, on Wednesday she fyave- it tho boltlo. which it took almost grcticiily. Nothing whatever appeared to ail tho child, but at about 5 o'clock it suddenly died iv hor ami*. Dr King said there wore, no external indications to show the •cause of death, but on making a post mortem examination he found a piece of fatty substance, in the heart about the size of a hazol nut. Tho child was a very fat

oi7P, but suoli an oecurence was extraorclw nary in so young a child. The cause of death was due to fatty embolus in the heart, resulting in heart failure. A verdict. was returned cf "Death from natural!

Mrs Wilson, a resident of Kakaraka, Poverty Bay, suddeuly dropped down dead in -the" town on Friday. She had been in ill-health.

A young man named Hart E. Udv. 25 yoars of age. was found drowned in a drain at Carterton, North Island. He was subject to fits, and it is presumed. that he took a fit and fell into the drain.

A fire occurred at Whakamara, Taranaki, on Saturday morning, and a three-roomed! house was destroyed. The remains of John Horan (better known as Horme) were found amongst the ashes of the cottage. The limbs and head were burnt off, only portion of the trunk remaining. There is no clue as .to how the fire originated. Deceased was the only occupant. He had been in the district for 18 months, and came from, Rangitikei. A shunter named Cornelius Sheehan waa killed at JFeatherston Railway Station on Saturday by being run over by a truck. Mrs Burton, whose husband is employed by the Westinghouse Brake Company afc A'ddiDgcon Railway Workshops, fell dead iii Cook's chemist shon, Christchurch, on Saturday night. Mr Burton states that? his wife", who was between 35 and 40 veara of age, ha 3 been suffering from hearts disease.

A distressing fatality occurred at St., Andrews on Wednesday, by which Cecil, the two-year-old son of Mr A. Rodgers, met! h ; « death. Between 6 and 7 o'clock in tha morning, while Mr Rodgers was out milking, file little fellow left his mother's bedroom, where he had been sleeping, and made for the kitchen, "where the fire was burning. Shortly afterwards Mrs Rodgers, who was in her room, heard the chili scream, and on rushing to the kitchen found! his shirt in flames. Mrs Rodgers succeeded in quickly extinguishing the blaze, and then dressed the wounds with salad oil. The wounds, although giving the child prreal; pain, looked hardly serious enough ho call for medical attention. All day the little fellow, seemed to be doing well, but about midnight he suddenly collapsed, and died: shortly after 1 o'clock. The cause of deatbj was apparently shook. Deceased's parents are settlers on Par-cora No. II Settlement. At the inquest a verdict of " Accidental death*" was returned.

The coroner lield -an inquesb at Auckland concerning- the death, of a married woman named Minnie Jane Hoey, who died suddenly early on Sunday morning: at the house of Wm. Mincham. Andrew Hoey, a carpenter, of Riverhead. said he was deceased's husband, but they had recently been living apart* William Thomas Mincham said he Jiad knowndeceased since she was a child. She recently often came to his house when she was hardl vp, and did so on Saturday evening. He had his daug-hters living with him. Sho asked to be allowed to sleep at has house,, as she was ill with sore throat. He went to a store close by and got some Irish. Moss, which, bow-ever, she would not drink. Tho woman was also sligfotly under the influence of liquor. About daybreak on Sunday morning he went to see her, and found shei was dead. In ,. his opinion deceased died! from the effects of diphtheria. To a- iury^ man: He crawled to the -woman's side aft about daylight on Sunday and found her dead. He was in an intoxicated state. Di? John Oraig said the cause 'of death was Inflammation of the lungs ; fche conditions were those of early pneumonia. A verdict was returned in .accordance wifch trie medical evidence.

A butcher named Wilson, who was thrown! from hifi vehicle on Safcurdav night, lies in the Cartei-tan (N.1.) Hospital in a serioug condition.

Mre Catherine Wakelin (73), wife of Mi? E L. Wakelin, an old settler at Carterton, dropped dead on Monday while sewiug.The doctor had warned the family that hec death would be sudden. James Castle, an old aspe pensioner, was brought from Kaikoura suffering fi-om burna occasioned by attempting to extinguish^ ai fire in his whare. He in the Christy church Hospital on M(p^§^tnorning. Afj the inquest a verdict of accidental death' was returned.

Ernest Trerise, 15 years of age, who resides with his parents at Woolston, and is employed at Messrs Buttemvorth Brothers' warehouse at Christchurch, fell two storeys down a lift, on Monday, and. in addition to a severe shaking, his left wrist waa broken.

Patrick O'Callaglian, an old man, dieel suddenly -at the Railway Hotel, Amberley, on Monday night apparently of old age.