CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3833, 30 August 1927, Page 37

CASUALTIES.

FARMER INJURED. AUCKLAND, August 24. A coincidence as unique as it is sad occurred in the Maungaroa Gorge. Howick, on Tuesday evening, when Mr C. Dando, a farmer, of Whitford, was seriously' injured close to the spot where his five-year-old son was killed last year under identical circumstances, in which even the same horse figures. But for the sagacity o" his dog, Mr Dando would have lain unseen from the road throughout the night.

Mr Dando, alone with his dog, was returning home from Otahuhu in a onehorse sulky after sunset, and it is thought that the accident happened shortly before 7 o’clock. The road through the Maungaroa Gorge, between Howick and Whitford, is particularly tortuous, and, at a sharp bend which has been the scene of several accidents, the-harness apparently broke, and the horse became frightene’d. The animal dragged the sulky over a bank, and Mr Dando was thrown heavily. lie lay in a semi-conscious condition, and was unable to assist himself. The horse and th J damaged cart stood nearby out of sight from the road. It is not known whether any vehicles passed the spot in ignorance of the accident., but when Mr C. Henson reached this part of the gorge in his motor car before 8 o’clock his attention was attracted by the dog rushing across the path of the car and barking furiously. Too old a farmer to ignore the strange conduct of the dog. Mr lienson slowed down, and the dog began dashing from the crown of the road to the edge of the bank, barking without cessation until Mr Henson descended and found Mr Dando lying at the foot of the bank. Mr Henson took the injured man to Howick, where Dr Ross found him to be suffering from injuries to the head, and ordered his removal to the Auckland Hospital.

The fatality which the accident recalls occurred on the evening of January 13, 1926. Mrs Dando was driving the sulky, the other passengers being her three children and two women. The harness broke on the sharp bend, and the horse got out of control, throwing the ocucpants of the sulky on to the road. Mrs Dando received painful injuries, and her five-year-old son succumbed. Mr Dando was subjected to an X-ray examination to-day, which showed he had suffered a fracture of the jaw.

A SUDDEN DEATH. GISBORNE, August 24. At the inquest on Richard Havelock, aged 65, a farm labourer, who died suddenly soon after his admission to the hospital, a verdict of death from natural causes was returned.

SERIOUS MOTOR COLLISION. WANGANUI. August 24. When a car driven by J. W. G. Bourne, of Okoia, collided with a motor cycle ridden by Alfred Randall, of Aramoho, at 5 o’clock to-night, the latter was badly injured, and was taken to the hospital with severe head injuries. His condition is serious. Lawrence Whiteside, who was on the pillion, received a cut on the knee and abrasions. Bourne was unhurt.

DRAGGED BY A PONY. PALMERSTON N., August 24. While riding to school, Colin Farland, aged eight years, whose parents reside in Manson street, had the misfortune to receive painful injuries through being dragged by a pony. In dismounting his foot caught in the rein, and some other children rushing to his assistance frightened the animal, which dragged the lad some distance. He suffered severe facial abrasions, general bruises, and shock, and was taken to hospital for treatment. The boy’s condition has improved slightly since admission, but he will be in hospital for three or four days.

FOUND DEAD IN BATH. AUCKLAND, August 25. Mrs Eleanor Amelia Wells, aged 50, was found drowned in a bath of water at her home at 32 Carlton Gore road about 1 o’clock this afternoon. Mrs Wells, who had a weak heart, was left alone in the house about 8 o’clock, and when her daughter went back for lunch she found her mother lying dead in the bath, which she had apparently been preparing for use. Mrs Wells was a widow.

INFANT FATALLY SCALDED. AUCKLAND, August 25. The death occurred in the Auckland Hospital to-day of the infant so” of ''lr and Mrs J. R. Allen, of 20 Bracken avenue, Epsom, who was accidemahy scalded in a bath on Wednesday. The child had been placed in a bath, and the water had been turned on in ignorance of the fact that the hot water system,

which had been defective, had been repaired on the previous evening.

MOTOR CAR CAPSIZES. HAMILTON, August 25. Through the capsizing of a motor car on the main Hamilton-Ngaruawahia road to-night Clara Stevens, a typist, of Ngaruawahia, was admitted to the hospital suffering from head injuries. Her condition is fairly serious.

MAORI ATTACKED BY BOAR. TAUMARUNUI, August 25. While crossing a paddock on his property at Sandy Beach, a Native, John Pihama, was attacked by a boar. The pig was running in the paddock with other pigs. Both the Native’s legs were ripped open, and he suffered a severe wound in the back. Pihama was taken to hospital.

CAR CAPSIZES DOWN BANK. PALMERSTON N., August 25. A fortunate escape from very serious injury was the lot of a party the members ot which were returning to Palmerston North by car from Waipukurau last night. Their vehicle capsized on the side of the road, somersaulting down a bank. The accident occurred near the railway crossing between Woodville and the gorge, where, on being approached by a service car with very dazzling lights, Mr RM. Maunder, the driver of the party, pulled well over to his correct side and stopped to allow the other vehicle to pass, unfortunately, the bank gave wav, and the car, a sedan, turned over twice as it rolled down to the bottom of the bank. Mr Maunder, Mr R. Toogood, and one of the other members of the party escaped unhurt, but Mr J. 11. Gilchrist suffered bruises and minor shock, and is confined to bed. The car was considerably damaged. But for the fact that it was a closed one the consequences to the occupants would have been much more serious.

RICCARTON ROAD FATALITY. . CHRISTCHURCH, August 25. Tile inquest concerning the death of Daniel Fitzgerald, a middle-aged man, was concluded before the coroner (Mr E. D. Mosley) to-day. Fitzgerald was found dead on the Riccarton road beside his bent and crumpled bicycle on July 10. Dr A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital, said the cause of death was internal hiemorrliagc associated with a fracture of the spine. He had formed the opinion that Fitzgerald was struck in the back and run over by a vehicle. The fracture was severe, but he could not say if the impact had been forceful, as that depended on the weight of the vehicle. There were no indications that the body had been dragged. James Ritchie, of Sockburn, said he left town at 12.30 a.m. on July 10. About 12.55 a.m. he was passing near the Busn Inn Hotel, when lie noticed an unlighted motor truck proceeding into town. Ha was unable to say what make it was, but, it was about a two-ton truck with solid rubber tyres.

Detective Moyne said that, together with Constable M’Clurg he had made investigations to see if he could discover any vehicle that could have caused the accident, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The Coroner returned a verdict that Fitzgerald died on the Riccarton road, near the Bush Inn Hotel, on July 10. Death was caused from internal haemorrhage associated with a fractured spine, which was probably caused by Fitzgerald having been run over by a vehicle of some description.

FOUND WITH THROAT CUT. CHRISTCHURCH. August 25. A man namej Edward Sullivan, of Kaiapoi, was found late last night with his throat cut in a lavatory in Moorhouse avenue. He was found lying at the entrance to the lavatory by a man who reported the matter at once to the police. Sullivan was taken to the hospital. This morning his condition was reported to be satisfactory. A razor was found near where the man was lying.

BOY’S LEG SEVERED. HAMILTON, August 28. A sad accident befell Audrey M’Dell, a boy of 11. whose parents reside at Pukekohe. When playing on a farm at Newstead on Saturday he fell from a disc plough which passed over him, severing his left leg below the knee. The sufferer was admitted to the Waikato Hospital, where his condition was reported to be satisfactory.

CYCLING ACCIDENT. WANGANUI, August 2d. The danger of allowing a road to be used for racing purposes was demonstrated yesterday afternoon when Mrs Walpole, a pedestrian, and a cycle rider named Barnes, were injured. Mrs Walpole was walking along the river bank near the three-mile peg when a bunch o f cycle riders overtook and passed her. In hot pursuit of the leading bunch came another five cyclists. They cried out in warning, but Mrs Walpole could not have heard them. The leading riders swerved, one of them striking her with his shoulder and another rider striking her on the back, knocking her on to her face. Barnes, one of the cyclists, came down on his face. Mrs Walpole was badly cut about the face. Dr Wall was summoned t o the scene and ordered Barnes to the hospital for treatment.

TRAIN STRIKES LORRY. ROTORUA, August 27. A motor lorry driven by Stanlay Parsons, Atiamuri, was struck by the outgoing 3.45 train at the Ranolf crossing. The lorry was thrown clear of the line and turned over. The driver escaped uninjured. The crossing is not visible from the south, being blanketed by the engine sheds.