ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

Southland Times, Issue 16786, 14 July 1911, Page 6

ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

(Per United Press Association.) WELLIXGTOX, July 13. An inquest was held to-day concerning the death by drowning of Robert Humphries who arrived by the Corintliic oa Tuesday from London, and was seen struggling in the water near the wharves the same night by two Greek sailors, who assisted a seaman on a ferry steamer to launch a boat. They got the man out of the water but wore too late, their efforts to restore animation being futile. During the inquiry one of thy Greeks was asked if lie did not think of jumping in to the rescue, lie replied that iic could swim but the drowning' man might have pulled him down. He did not look for-life-saving annarttUis. The Coroner returned a verdict of death by drowning, but added that there was no evidence to show how deceased got into the water. He could not say that any blame was attributable to the Greek sailors for not jumping in to rescue the drowning man. It was entirely a matter for a man’s own judgment, self preservation being the first law. Deceased was married, and was 33 years of age. His wife and mother are due to arrive from England by the .vriiWii next month. WELLIXGTOX, July 13. The inquest was concluded to-day before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., on the death of Frederick Hunt, who- was knocked down on Monday night by a motor car belonging to Mr Ewart. The only witness called was Harry Withington, employed at the Government . Printing Oiiice. He saw the deceased crossing the road from the -Arcadia and the motor car approaching. Deceased went down like a skittle. The driver of the car put the brake on and swerved from his course. The car was travelling eight to ten miles an hour. The light was bad. Deceased appeared to have his head down to avoid the wind and rain. The Coroner said that deceased met his death accidentally. There was a duty on both drivers and pedestrians to keep a look-out. The verdict was that deceased died of a fracture of the skull and hemorrhage caused by being accidentally knocked down by a motor car. The Coroner added that the motor man wa- driving at a reasonable speed and that when lie saw that a collision was inevitable, lie acted promptly and did evervthing he could to avoid it. ASHBURTOX. July 13. An accident occurred during the playing of a third grade football match on the show grounds to-day. by which Keith Doe sustained a broken leg. and two other youths were slightly hurt and bruised. Dee’s break was not a particularlv serious one. CHRISTCHURCH, July 13. An inquest was held to-day touching the deatii of George Blue, labourer, who was killed by the fall of a brick wall at the back of Smith's motor garage between Worcester and Gloucester streets yesterday. -After a short retirement the jury returned a verdict that deceased met his death through the wall falling on him, and that there was negligence on the part of someone in not having the wall shored or having someone to keep a look out for the collapse of the wall.