CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 41

CASUALTIES.

'J* At an inquest at Wellington into the circumstances surrounding the death of Donald Lauchlan M’Hutdheson, who was found hanging in the Treasury Building, wherp he was employed as a bookbinder, evidence was given that deceased left a note stating that he suffered from mental strain, and did not want to be a burden on his relatives. A verdict of suicide while suffering from mental strain was returned. He was a married man, 60 years of age, with no family. A. C. Summer, a crippled man, discharged from Trentham Military Hospital, fell from the staircase to the ground at the Empire Hotel, Hawera. He was removed to the hospital, where it was found that both thighs were fractured. The unfortunate man died from shock. Fred Banks, second officer of the steamer Corinna, is missing. He had been on. shore leave at and did not returne to the G'orinna when the vessel sailed south on Tuesday. No trace of his whereabouts has been discovered. At the corner of Tory street and Courtenay place, Wellington, on tho 22nd. Jack Grayndler, aged 12 years, while pushing a bicycle along was knocked down by a motor car. Ho sustained a fracture of the left leg and very severe injuries to his head, and was removed to the hospital, where he died at 6.30 next morning. The police received advice on the 22nd from Tolaga Bay of the death of a Alaori boy named Heta Tekana Matete on Tuesday night. The bov was riding on the Uawa County Council motor lorrv. which was returning from a quarry with five tons of metal. The lad lived near a bridge, and evidently intended to get off near his home. Apparently lie slipped off when the lorry was proceeding at a slow pace, and struck the railing of the bridge. He was thrown back, and fell under the lorry, his head being crushed. Ronald Herbert Yates, aged eight years, was drowned in the Ileathcote River at Opawa on the 23rd ult. With another boy be was nlaving in a punt, and fell out. His companion went to his assistance, blit got into difficulties, and was rescued by a passerbv. Yates’s body lias not yet been recovered. Albert Barwiek. of Woolston, holidaymaking at Arthur’s Paps, when returning from a visb to the glacier, slipped on the rocks and fell into the river-lied. He was found 22 hours later, unconscious, and removed to the Christchurch Hospital. Ho is progressing favourably. A fatal accident occurred in the Hunua Gorge, Auckland, on the 24th. a single man named Pearce Grace, aged 28 years, being killed instantly as the result of a motor lorry falling over a cliff 70ft high. Tho lorry was conveying coal from the Ilunua Collierv to Papakura. The other occupants (Mrs H. AT’Enter- and a child aged five years) escaped with bruises and shock. The deceased was a returned soldier, and had been wounded three times._ A motor car engaged in the AkaroaUhristohurch run. when returning to Christchurch on the 23rd with a fairly full load, overturned into a ditch near Motukarara. One passenger was thrown through the wind screen and cut about the bend. The others escaped with a shaking. The oar was slightly damaged, and was able to finish the journey. A prisoner named George Pile, serving a. sentence of five years in New Plymouth gaol, dropped dead on the 26th when carrying water "to the bathroom, apparently from, heart trouble. The deceased \vas single, aged about 50 years, and had no relatives in New Zealand. While boating at Evan’s Bay, Wellington, a boy about 12 years of age named Cbeeseman ’ was knocked from a boat through a boom striking him. Owing to tlie heavj- sea it was impossible to rescue tile lad. and he sank to the bottom in about 50ft. of water. Alexander Maltonson, a fireman, residing at Mount Cargill, and aged 20 years, was admitted to the Hospital on Sunday suffering from a fracture of his left leg below the knee, sustained while engaged in wrestling. John M’Naughton, 42 years of age, who was arrested at Middlemarch on' February 23, died in the Hospital on Sunday morning, lie was arrested on a charge of lieipless drunkenness, and Dr Roberts, who examined him, it- as his opinion that the man was suffering from delirium tremens. He was brought before tho City Police Court on February 24, and remanded for medical, treatment. Ho was examined bv Dr Fergus, who ordered his removal to the Hospital. Deceased had been a farmer at Middlemarch for some years.