TRAGIC CHAPTER

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11026, 24 December 1928, Page 5

TRAGIC CHAPTER

SECOND EDITION

WEEK-END TOLL

TWO MEN DROWNED. United Press Assn—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. AUCKLAND. Last Night. Two unmarried men, Vivian ALturice Donaldson, of Lower Matakaua, aged 26, and Lala. Brown, aged 19, of Pakiri, were drowned off Leigh to-day. They were in a small new craft with Trevor Taylor, aged 19, who was saved after swimming half a mile. The accident occurred in an attempt to turn the boat. Taylor says the last he saw of his companions was when they were clinging to the upturned boat. BODY WASHED ASHORE. AUCKLAND, Last Night. A body, believed to be that of Horatio Ivan Hawkins, of Victoria road, Devonport, who was lost from a canoe off Milford beach last Sunday, was washed ashore on Takapuna beach this morning. Hawkins left Devonport alone and the canoe was picked up later in the afternoon bv a launch. The paddles were inside. Hawkins was married, with two children, and was a brother of Archdeacon Hawkins. MOTOR-CYCLIST’S LEG BROKEN. PALMERSTON N., Last Night. Sustaining a fractured right leg, the result of a collision between his motor-cycle and r. ccr in the Square, George Billis, aged 30. a plasterer, was admitted to th„ hospital yesterday afternoon. To-day he was reported to be progressing satisfactorily. ANOTHER MOTOR FATALITY. INVERCARGILL, Last Night. As a result of a serious motor smash in the early hours of this morning, Sydney Harold Patten, ail employee of A. and T. Burt Ltd., lost his life. A car, driven by R. G. Day, of the Gladstone service station, was going from town towards Gladstone when it collided violently with a heavy telegraph pol e on the North Road. Patten was killed outright and Day was rendered unconscious. A third passenger, Frederick Gerbes, was also in ail unconscious state when picked up and with Day, was removed to hospital. The latter sustained several scalp wounds, while Gerbes was cut about the face. Deceased. who was 31 years of age and single, was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs P. G. Patten, of Ellice Street. "Wellington, and. a brother of M.r P. G. Patten, traffic inspector, of Palmerston North. RAILWAY ACCIDENT. SYDNEY, December 23. During the height of the holiday traffic yesterday to the Blue Mountains, the engine and two carriages left the rails at Toongabbie. The passengers were hurled on top of one another. Nobody was injured but several are suffering from shock. Another train on the same line crashed into the rear of a stationary train at Seven Hills, one carriage being badly smashed. Again nobody was injured. This accident was the result <n the disorganisation caused by the first mishap. Eye-witnesses declare it was miraculous that many were not killed. MOTOR ACCIDENT. Mr A. C. Mitchell, superintendent engineer and director of Messrs JJ. Niven and Co., engineers, is fortunate in being able to spend Xmas with his family in Wellington. Late on Saturday evening he was motoring to the city in a large Buick sedan, and when opposite Mr \\ oollaud’s property at Hamua, a collision occurred with a motorist proceeding in th e opposite direction. The impact must have been very great, as Mr Mitchell’s car was greatly damaged, and the occupant had a lucky escape. There is a small bridge at the locality, one side of which had already been carried away and the car in falling "over the structure carried the other rail away. The car landed on the dry bed of a. creek, thd distance being estimated at 14 feet. Mr Mitchell escaped with no serious minifies, and it is alleged the other motorist did not pull up. The latter’s car, it is thought, must have suffered t,> some extent. Settiers gate all possible assistance in extricating Air Mitchell and the car. Air and Airs W. T. Brown, of Pahiatua, were proceeding to Alnsterton at the time to bring a relative to Pahiatua. and Air Brown immediately co-operated with those who wer e giving prompt relief. Ho conveyed Air Alitchell to Afasterton, and the latter subsequently cor tinned his journey to Wellington.