CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 23

CASUALTIES.

A Native named Rawhira was killed while bush-fellingx at the Hon. J. D. Ormond's Mahia Station. "William John Wilkins, aged 68, manager of the Hastings gasworks, while at work on the 13th complained of faintnees. He was taken home, and expired within half an hour. The deoea&ed had been an. employee of the Napier Gas Company for 21 years. He leaves a widow, seven ! sons, and two daughters. At the inquest on the 13tli touching the death of John Graham, aged 33, who -was found dead with his 'throat cut at KaTamu, near Hastings, en tne 10th, the jury returned a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane. One witness stated that on one or two occasions Graham had compalined of not being able to sleep. A man'named Fkzherbert was found on a farm near Ing3ewootl,< TJaranaki, hanging from ,a tree, quite dead A young man named Ernest Co*^ met wbh a eeriou'i accident near Wellinigtion on the 14th inst. He and his brother wen* out to the Red Rocks, between Happy Valley and Terewhiti, for the purpose of shooting rabbits. He was in the act of pulling a rabbit out of its hole when his Iguai, which he had placed on the ground, went off. The charge entered' his right arm, causing a very ugly wound. He v.as driven to tr.e hosnital, where his injury was attended to. What might have proved a serious accident occurred in Naseby on the 14th inst., when a wagigonatto driven by Mr E. Smilth capsized owinz to ona of the wheels coming off. Mr Smith and the other two occupants of the vehicle (Messrs T. Kirby •and W. George) were thrown to the ground, but luckily escaped iniury. and the driver was able to retain control of the horses. James Glover, aged about 54 years, a carter, was found drowned in Battery Road Lagoon, Napier, on tbe 15th. Groans were heard near the place on Wednesday night, but a civilian and a constable who ir.ade search were unable to ascertain whence they proceeded. At low tide this ! afternoon Glover's body was discovered lying, in the mud. His coat was found : on- the bank of the lagoon. Deceased leaves a widow and six children. William Podgers, a man employed at the Auckland Club, ■ met with a nasty J accident oil the 16th. He was cleaning a I skylight, and fell through to the floor, a [ distance of about 15ft or 16ft. Podger* I was badly cut about the legs, and underwent an operation at the hospital on account of an .artery in one "fcrm ! having been severed. The man fell flat j on his back, and a heavy sheet of plate glass fell on top of liim. i I About 4 p.m. on Wednesday John. j Barkman, een., whilst driving a team of ! horses attached to a vehicle from Halfway Bush along the Main Toad, Roslyn, in some manner fell from his seat under the wheele of the conveyance. He was picked up unconscious and conveyed to the Hospital, whero his injuries were found to constitute two broken ribe. He is progressing as well as can be expected. An inquest was held on the 12th inst. at St. Bathans. touching the death of Mrs Toomey, who died suddenly on the 11th inst. The inquiry was held at the courthouse, before Mr W. M'Connochie, J.P., and a jury of fcix. The verdict of the jury was in accordance with Dr Bagley's evidence — " That the deceased met with her death through valvular disease of the heart." The deceased was one of the early pioneers of St. Bathans, and had resided there for 43 years. She v?as 72 years of age. She was the wife of Patrick Toomey, a well-known man in the district. A private cable from Norfolk Island reports that Frank Bates Evans, the steerer in No. 2 whaling boat, was killed by a whale on the 19th inst. A very unfortunate accident occurred^ at Kyeburn on Saturday evening just prior to Mr Scott giving his address at that place. Mr Joseph Douglas, who was assisting to light the hall, was in the act of stepping up on a chair in order to reach a lamp when, owing to the slippery

floor, which had been used the previous evening for a dance, the chair slipped from unHer him, and he fell on hjs right leg, breaking it just above the ankle. Mr Douglas was as soon as possible conveyed to Naseby Hospital, where he was attended to by fir Macknight. The above unfortunate occurrence cast a gloom over Mr Scott's meeting, as Mr Douglas is very popular, as one who is always willing to assist in any way at meetings or any entertainment which takes place in the district. Before opening his address Mr Scott said lie was voicing the feeling of everyone who was thare that evening, as well as his own, in expressing deep regret for Mr Douglas and family,, and hoped that he would make a speedy recovery. A young man named Mage© got so excited* at the pony races at Wellington that hv? ran acroes the course at the close" of one event under the impression that the horses were all past, but was knocked down by a belated whir>per-in and received a compound fracture of the right leg. Frank Hedges, 21 years of age, was drowned whilst bathing in a water hoi© in Boundary Creek at Evaline, near Oamaru, on the' lßth inst. No one witnessed the accident. At the inquest a vefdict Vas returned" of "Accidentally , drowned." \