CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 21

CASUALTIES.

On the 19th inst., at Auckland', John Kelly, 35 years of age, residing in Ponsonby, who was working on a scaffolding on the third storey of the Thistle Hotel, missed his footing ands fell. He was picked up in an unconscious condition, and it was found that he was suffering from severe concussion of the brain. His condition is serioue. While out receiving- instruction with the Victoria College Officers' Training Corps on, Kelburne Park on Monday, 18th inst., Mr Hedley Jordan, a student at the Teachers' Training College, was seized with a fainting fit, and lost consciousness. He died 10 hours later. Mr Jordan was about 21 years o*f age, and entered the Training College only last year. Prior to that he attended the Nelson Boys' College for some time. As a student at the Training College, he also attended lectures at Victoria College, and was this year to sit for the first section of his B.A. degree. Physically he. was very strong,. while he also gave promise of becoming a very good teacher. At'the time of his collapse he was being instructed in signalling work. He was immediately removed to a private hospital and was attended by two doctors, but never recovered consciousness. The medical men gave a certificate that his death was due to the presence of a clot of blood ! on the brain, and no inquest is to be held. Mr Jordan's, parents live at Dovedale, about 30 miles from Nelson. The Waimate correspondent of the Oamaru Mail states that Mr Michael Frost, a v/ell-knowri farmer of Studholme, met with a. fatal accident on Thursday. He was carting straw on his son's farm at Deep Creek. A lead he was riding on slipped and deceaised fell to the ground, fracturing his skull. Dr Barclay was called in, but the injured man died at 10 p.m. vithout having regained consciousness. The coroner was advised of the facts, and decided that an inquest was' not necessary. | At the adjourned inquest on the body I of an infant which was found on the beach at Onehunga, Dr Tressidder gave evidence to the effect that the body was , that of a newly-born female child. There were no marks of violence on the body, which was fully developed, and was strong and healthy looking. The post mortem examination showed that the child had lived and breathed. He attributed the death to exposure and hemorrhage—not to drowning. The verdict arrived at was that the child had been murdered by some person or persons unknown. . Frank Goodman, a railway porter, was badly injured on the 23rd during shunting operations at the Ashburton station. Two waggons were passing on opposite lines, and the corner of one waggon struck Goodman in the groin and threw him clear of the rails. He was removed to the hospital. A painfully sudden death occurred at Port Chalmers at noon, on Saturday. Mr Andrew James Smith, a plumber in the employ of the Union Steam Shin Company, went home in his usual health, and just as he finished his dinner and was rising to leave the table he leaned back in his chair and expired. Deceased, who was 39 years of age, leaves a wife and four children, the youngest of whom is about three months old. Mr Smith was captain of the local fire brigade for some yeans, and only recently assigned that j position, but did not sever bis connection with the brigade. Mr H.

Y. Widdowson, ooroneT, held an inquest at deceased's T€sidence yesterday afternoon. Mrs Smith stated that when she noticed her husband's head go back while in his chair she at once went to his assistance, and despatched! one of the children for a neighbour, Mr Imrie, who promptly came in. Dr Borrie, who lived close by, was also summoned, and came on the scene within a few moments of the occurrence. The doctor stated that when he examined deceased he was quite pulseless. Prompt efforts were made and continued for some time to restore animation, but without avail. A post mortem examination, which was made on instructions from the ooroner, showed that all deceased's organs were healthy; with the exception of the heart. In th« pericardium a pint of blood was found, but an examination of the heart itself showed that it was practically (empty, and that the right wall was ruptured, this being the cause of death. A verdict was recorded in accordance with the medical evidence. George Duncan, single, aged thirty-five, was swept off the Napier breakwater wharf on the 25th by an unusually large roller, and drowned. Two of the Harbour Board employees, Harmone and M'Allum, were caught'by another roller whilst going to Duncan's rescue, and severely injured. The sea was the heaviest experienced there for many years. Mr Duncan was for a considerable time caretaker of the North Egmont Mountain House. After leaving that position he joined the Citizens' Life Insurance Company as a canvasser for New Plymouth, and on resigning that position he came to Napier, where ht resided up to the time of his death. . Arthur Palmer, carter, married, aged about sixty-five, drooped dead on th* Napier breakwater. Death is supposed to be due to heart disease.