CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3380, 25 December 1918, Page 21

CASUALTIES.

At Wanganui on the 12th an elderly man named Samuel Robinson, a surfaceman em* ployed by the Waitotara. County Council, was killed at Kai Iwi by being knocked down by a motor car. Deceased was very deaf, and apparently crossed tho road in front of the car, which was not travelling at a fast rate. Deceased leaves a widow and a child. ... "

John Nesbitt, a married man with 10 children cut his throat at Nelson while suffering from depression following influenza. • •. .

John P. Havyke, carpenter, aged 59 years, expired suddenly on .the. 16th wliile working at Makarewa. He had just recovered from influenza. . Ho leaves a widow and three children. ».

Tho Superintendent of Police received advice on 17th from-Kurow that Margaret Sutherland, aged 35 years, had been tound dead in the Toft of a stable at Otiake'on the 6th. There were said to be_indications that the deceased, -who had been in poor health for some time, had taken poison. A-fire broke out in a hut at' Mcdgehope during the' early hours 6/ Sunday. 15th inst. (reports, the Wintoii Record), and the occupant of the hut', an old man named Patrick Boss, was burned to death. Mr- George H. Rent, aged 88 years, was* knocked down by a tramcar at Auckland on the 16th, and died in the hospital. Captain William Wheeler, medical officer on leave from Featherston camp, was found dead in bed at Te Aroha on-the 17th inst.

The Cambridge correspondent of the New Zealand Herald states that a young woman, Miss Norma Smith, whose relatives life Jit Hautapu, is believed to. have been drowned in the Waikatq - Biver on Saturday afternoon. Miss Smith, while strolling along the river bank with her sister, disappeared behind some bushes, and made no reply when her sister c-alled to her. Subsequently her shoes and hat * were discovered at the river's edge. Mr W. E. Hutchison, an Auckland building contractor, and a, former rhember of tho City Council and Harbour Board, died from injuries received in a "motor accident' en the 16th inst. •.

Samuel James Dyer, aged 18 years, a labourer, was* found dead at FendaltOn, shot through the chest. A shot gun was lying near tho body. Mr JbV Wilson, an electric linesman employed by the Railway Department at Taumarunui, . was found on the 21st unconscious beside the line half a mile, north of tho railway station. Tho man left* his boarding-house tho previous night nil good health. When found he had. serious 'injuries to his head, indicating-: that he had.fallen from a train in the night. Mr R.f R. • O. Masefield, a yachtsman and a member of tho firm of Masefield and Co., engineers and ironfounders, was killed on the Auckland waterfront on thejSiafc. He was making final preparations for a two weeks' cruise, andl was carrying a tin of> benzine and a bag of clothing. Going down tho steps_ from the cliff at Ponsonby he fell a l, distance of 12ft, striking his head on the rooks at the bottom, death being instantaneous. Deceased was aged 48, and leaves a widow. A particularly sad occurrence took place at the Ferry Wharf," Wellington, oh Wednesday afternoon, (says the when a resident of Duncdin, Mrs Priscilla Bobineon, collapsed and died while on her way to the ferry steamer 'Maori. Some eight weeks'ago the deceased arrived from a visit to Australia, and had been staying with a married daughter in Wellington. During her stay there she contracted pleurisy ana pneumonia, and received medical attention. As it was considered safe for her to travel, she had intended to go south by the Maori, and arrived 1 at the Ferry Wharf in a motor car, accompanied by her relatives. Gil alighting from the car she immediately collapsed and was carried to a eeat. Dr Line, was summoned, but death had ensued before his arrival. ' ."

While shunting at Bartholomew's siding, near Putaruru, on the 17th, a man named Gavin Peacock was "killed through being jammed between two trucks. -When taken from under the wheels lie was still alive, but died on the train at Tirau. Deceased, who was 50 years of age, leaves a widow and six children. ; ' / <' An act of heroism. 5 as the result of which a boy named Colin Crowther met his death at Taupo, is to be brought to the notice of tho Royal Humane Society. The evidence at' the inquest showed that Crowther had attempted to save Cl;other boy who had fallen into the Wail«rto. River. The coroner and jury added a rider to the verdict that tha attention of the society be drawn to the action of deceased.