ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9402, 24 March 1909, Page 4

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Per Press Association. Christchurch, March 23. The inquest concerning the death of Andrew Donglas Hardie, 70 years of age, whose body was found lying outside his cottage at Dudley Creek on Sunday, was resumed this afternoon. Dr. Mill gave evidence to the effect that the spine was dislocated and eight ribs on the right side of the body broken, and the heart penetrated. The injuries, which might have been caused by a blow on the side, were all ante-mortem. They might have been caused by a motor car striking the man’s back and side. Deceased.wouid not have been able to walk from the scene of the accident to the place at which the body jvas found, a distance of 15 yards. He was absolutely incapable of stooping and therefore could not place the kit under his head. L. O. Gardner said that on Saturday afternoon at 3.45 he saw deceased working at Dudley Creek within a few yards from where he was found dead. Later, deceased left for town by train and witness did not see him until Sunday morning at 9.30, when he found him lying in the paddock on the broad of bis back with bis bead lodged on the Maori kit and one arm twisted up over the head. His hat, which was three feet away from him. had a dent in it and appeared as though it had been in a pool of water. There was nothing to indicate that the body had been dragged along. The body was about three-qarters of a a chain from the roadway. There was a- gate sis feet high between the place where the body was found and the roadway. At this stage the inquest was adjourned till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday in order to allow the police to make further inquiries. New Plymouthr March 23. The Daily News’ correspondent telegraphed to-night that it is believed Mr J. E. Gulliver, schoolmaster at Tongaporutu, has been drowned. Atfer closing the school be went with a little son to the river, but not returning by 7 o’clock Mrs Gulliver became alarmed, and . went to the river, where she found the little boy, but no sign of her husband. He was not a good swimmer, and it is supposed ho was wearing artificial swimming wings. A search party is dragging the river, but has found no sign of the body. Wellington, March 23. At the inquest on the body found in the harbour this morning the deceased was identified as Thomas Randall, formrely employed by the Birmingham Waggon Company, of Birmingham, and lately from Australia. Deceased was about 45 years of age. In February be was before the Court on a charge of vagrancy. In December last he was inquired for in the list of “missingfriends” published. A verdict was returned that deceased was found drowned, and apparently it was a case of suicide. Wellington, March 24. g . Through the collapse ? of a steel ronf in course of construction on a , new building at the Gear Company’s Petoue works, a number of workmen were injured. Samuel Wilson, among other injuries, sustained a compound fracture of the leg. He was taken to hospital but died there. The worst cases among the others are :—Stanley Tower, three ribs broken and thigh injured ; and Thomas Cross, a wellknown representative footballer, whose side and back were injtprad. No explanation is given for the collapse of the roof, but it is suggested that the severe heat yesterday censed the principals at one end to buckle and carry away tha supports. There were eleven steel principals, track weighing fc«o tons. l