CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 13

CASUALTIES.

While .. the Northern Company's steamer Ilimu, from Hokianga, was crossing the Manukau bar on the 6th she was overtaken 'by a heavy sea, which completciy enveloped her, only her masts showing above ■water. Mr Gash (chief mate) and Seaman Howland Christian were on the boat deck. The latter was swept overboard, and is almost certain to have been drowned, while Mr Gash escaped by climbing into a boat on the davits.

Advice was received at Wanganui that a girl named Daphne Mary Church, aged 18 years, fell out of a dray and broke her neck. The sudden death of Frederick James Pulfer, aged 41, a single man, engaged in fishing occupations, is reported from Ruapuke Island. It appears that deceased and a man named Gus Tonson were mates in a fishing vessel at Ruapuke Island, and were engaged in fishing on the 2nd inst. They returned in the evening, and Pulfer commenced to get supper, while Tonson returned in a dinghy to the island. He was absent only a little while, and on returning found deceased lying dead. At the inquest (says the Southland Times) a verdict was returned to the effect that death was duo to valvular disease of the heart.

The dangerously inflammable nature of celluloid was illustrated by an accident which happened to an infant child of Mr J. W. Fitzgerald, of 10 Marion street, Wellington. On Thursday, 2nd inst., while the mother was preparing her other, children for school, she left her infant son, aged 14 months, in charge of her daughter, aged seven years. The little girl was combing her brother's hair when she dropped the comb. The infant picked it up and poked it in the fire. The comb instantly blazed up and set fire to the child's clothes, severely burning him. Unfortunately, death supervened next day. Albert Hannah, the seven-months-old son of Mr James Hannah, of Mataura, was found dead in a go-cart on the 7th. At the inquest 'the doctor's evidence snowed that the cause of death was inflammation of the_ lungs, and a verdict was returned accordingly.

On Wednesday morning the 16-months-old son of Mr James Sim, Seafield road, Ashburton, was found in a water-race near his homo. When rescued he was unconscious, and died before medical aid could be procured.

A farmer named J. R. Johnston, of Netherwood, Marlborough, was driving home, when his horse and trap went over a bank. Mr Johnston had his neck broken. Mr G. Macdonaldi, managing director of the Dominion College of Radio-telegraphy, is at present visiting Dunedin. Mr Martin R. O'Shea has received word that he has passed the final examination tor the degree of bachelor of commerce. Mr O'Shea, who is at present in Lawrence, went away in the Eighth Reinforcements, and returned to Dunedin in June of last year.

The Southland Timos reports that a messago has been received by the police to the effect that Charles Stewart M'Dowell, a sawmiller at Papatotara, was accidentally killed at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Deceased was 36 years of age, and married. An inquest will be held. Details are as yet very meagre, but it is understood that deceased was killed iby a falling tree, shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. He had been but a short time at work when the accident happened, it beins- the first tree felled that day. Mr George Thompson, aged about 36 yoars, a stoker at the gasworks, was killed by a train colliding, with his motor cycle and sidecar at a Wanganui street crossing on 'the 13th. Mrs Thompson was rery badly injured, and was taken to the hospital. Two young children are left Mr Patrick Kennedy, a well-known farmer on the Culverden Estate,, was killed In the Heka Pass on the 12th by his motor or.r overturning on him. On Saturday morning a train collided with a trap driven bv Mr Henry HodgkinBon, a farmer, aged 70 years, at Makarewa. Mr Hodgkinson_ was badly injured, and died in a few minutes.