CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 35

CASUALTIES.

ELDERLY MAN DROWNED. AUCKLAND, October 1. Tragic circumstances attended the death of John Weir, aged 78, a widower, at the Okere Falls power station, Rotorua, this afternoon. Weir was visiting the station in company with his son. St6ve Weir, a member of the station staff, and with some other visitors he was watching the water flowing from the flumes into the turbine intakes. After the others had left, Weir remained on the intake platform, and only two or three minutes later he was heard calling for assistance and was found struggling in the water. Although help was readily forthcoming and Weir was quickly removed, death had occurred, prolonged resuscitation efforts being without avail. It is presumed that the fall into the water was due to a giddy turn brought about by giving close attention to the swirling waters.

CHILD KILLED BY CAR. PALMERSTON N„ October 2. At the inquest into the death of Betty Frances Albrey, aged seven, who died on September 23, after a motor accident on Oroua Downs, Charles John Dunbar Skinner, of Feilding, gave evidence that on September 15 he passed a grader working on the Sandon-Himatangi road at not more than 20 miles an hour. The girl darted out in front of the car, and he swerved to the right to miss her, but did not apply his brakes, as’it was too late. The bumper caught her. William Gilbert Hope, grader driver, said that Skinner’s car, when level with the grader, was travelling at 30 to 34 miles an hour. The girl ran across 30 yards in front of the car,' which swerved to the right, struck her, and pulled up 72 yards further on. Had the brakes been applied the accident would not have occurred, said the witness- j be cor< ? ner returned a verdict th at deceased died following a fractured skull, sustained through being knocked down by a car ' negligently driven by Skinner.

A DOUBLE INQUEST. PALMERSTON N„ October 2. A double inquest was held before the coroner (Mr A. J. Graham) at Palmerston North, concerning a motor accident near Awahuri on September 11, when Herbert Henry Griggs and his infant grandson, Peter Brace, lost their lives. In the former case the coroner returned * verdict of accidentally killed, addinr that the accident was due to an unfortunate set of circumstances. Deceased met two cars and apparently pulled too far off the bitumen; in attempting to regain the road he overturned his car. In the case of the child, the coroner returned a formal verdict according to the medical evidence. DEATH INSTANTANEOUS. _ WELLINGTON, October 2. Mrs John Hannah, aged about 35, was run over and killed instantly by a railway bus at the intersection of Stout and Featherston streets at 10.30 last night. The only clue to her identity then was supplied by a wedding ring, on the inside which were engraved the initials J.H.’ .—, M.L.V., — 3/2/30.” The bus, which was driven by P. J. Carroll, was one of those used on the WellingtonLower Hutt run. .It is customary for these buses to go a short distance along the road past Lambton railway station in order to turn round. It was while the bus was turning round that the woman was knocked down and killed. She was apparently crossing the road. The driver of the bus stopped quickly, and, after a hurried investigation, communicated with the police. Death must have been instantaneous, for one of the wheels passed over the woman’s head. It was a shock to many to find that the victim of the accident was Mrs Hannah, a lady of high culture, who had travellled much and whose talents were always at the disposal of charitable and kindly causes of all kinds. Mr Hannah died some years ago. The deceased was the daughter of Mr H. E. Nicholls, of Khandallah.

A CHILD’S DEATH. WAIPUKURAU, October 3. When backing his motor car from a shed along the drive to the roadside this morning, Mr John K.. Lee, resident engineer of the Central Hawke’s Bay Power Board, did not notice that his youngest son, aged two years, had run out behind the car. and in consequence the car passed over the child, who was killed instantaneously. •

BODY FOUND IN ESTUARY. INVERCARGILL, October 5. The body of Charles Duerden, aged 50 years, a married man who had been missing since Tuesday afternoon, was found on Saturday afternoon in the Invercargill Estuary. ■. An inquest will be held. , ' MAN FOUND DEAD. . A man named Joseph Ward, a labourer, single, 50 years of age, was found dead on. Saturday evening in circumstances which pointed .to .suicide. He . returned to his home at 9 Richardson street at about 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, and when he did not appear for his tea a search was made, and he was found hanging by the neck from a :piece of rope in the lavatory. A doctor was immediately summoned, but death had already taken place. DEATH IN HOSPITAL. An inquest concerning the death of Alice M’Kenzie, who had. been employed as., a waitress in the Nurses’ Home at Dunedin Hospital, and who died in the Hospital-on Friday night, was opened at the Hospital on Saturday afternoon, Mr H; AV, Bundle,. S.M., sitting as coroner . After evidence of identification had been given -by.- Miss- Tennent, matron • of , Dunedin Hospital.-the. coroner adjourned the inquest-siixe: v ...; < ' MOTORIST INJURED. , A young, man named, Andrew Wales, .residing in Newington avenue, was admitted, to. the. Hospital at: 5.30 p.m. on Saturday suffering from a compound frac-

ture of the left leg, received when the motor cycle he was riding collided with a telegraph pole in Highgate.