CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 49

CASUALTIES.

A married man named Henry Phillips, a farmer at Moumahaki, was killed by a fulling tree. Two brothers of the deceased have been killed at the front. One of them was wounded at Gallipoli and was invalided to New Zealand, leaving again early In the present year. The news of his death came to hand last week. At Green Island on the 29th a child named Charles Henry Miller, seven weeks old, was found dead-in its cradle by its mother. She put the infant down about 8.30 a.m., and on having a look at it an hour later found it dead. At an inquest held before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., in the afternoon, the evidence of Dr Ross showed that the child had been delicate from birth, and had died from mal-nutrition. A verdict was returned in accordance with this testimony. Advice wae received on the 29th by the Superintendent of Police that Mrs Margaret Johnson, aged 56 years, wife of Mr F. Johnson, dairy farmer, Henley, had died suddenly on Monday, 27th ult., while engaged in her domestic duties. Arthur William Roberts, who was fatally injured at Marton railway station on Wednesday, 22nd ult., left New Zealand with the Main Body as a bombardier, returning to the- dominion about six or seven months ago, as the result of wounds received at Gallipoli. The deceased at the time of the accident was journeying to Taihape to take up a position in the locomotive department of the railway service. He had served in South Africa, being sergeant in the Fourth and lieutenant in the Eighth Contingent. A distressing fatal accident occurred at the Waimate Railway Station on the 30th ult. The 12.40 train had proceeded 55 yards when an alarm was raised that a man had fallen off the train. How it happened is not clear. Tho victim proved to be David Hoare, an old and highly-respected identity. Ho had been an inmate of the hospital for a mental trouble for some time. Ho left the institution without being seen, and reached the railway station just as tho train was moving out. It is presumed that he attempted to board the train while it was in motion. Marks were seen where the body had been dragged a considerable distance. One ankle was severed and the man's neck was broken. The deceased had taken a prominent part in the Methodist Church. Robert M. Douglas, married, who was engaged in felling trees at Matahuru Gorge, Auckland, on the 3rd lust., was found dead with a tree across his neck and chest. Mr C. A. Barton, who has been connected with the courts of justice in New Zealand in both islands, was drowned on 2nd inst. It appears that Mr Barton was on his way to his farm, in from Raekihi, on horseback, and, in attempting to ford the Manganuioteao (a tributary of the Wanganui River), "which was In flood, he lost his life.

It is understood that ho was accompanied by one of lus sons. The deceased came to Wanganui from Hokitika in 1900 to take up the position of registrar of the Supremo Court as well as other official duties, and remained until March 31, 1913, when he was promoted to be clerk of the court at Auckland, which position he held until last year, when he retired on superannuation after having completed over 40 years in the Government service. During his stay in Wanganui Mr Barton, who always took a keen interest in amateur rowing, was closely identified with the Union Boating Club, and filled the position of captain of that club for some years. He leaves a widow and a family of six.