ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Southland Times, Issue 20463, 16 April 1928, Page 8

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

ACCIDENTS ATTENDING FIRE. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, April 15. Two accidents occurred when the Newmarket Fire Brigade was summoned to a fire in living rooms at the back of a shop shortly after one o’clock this afternoon.

John Cook, aged nine, was standing on the footpath among the crowd in the street where the fire occurred when a small dog with which he had been playing apparently tripped him and both boy and dog fell into the roadway. Just at this moment the brigade was passing on the fire engine which swerved but the boy was caught by the back wheel and flung aside. He sustained a fracture of the arm, concussion of the brain and internal injuries, and is reported by the hospital to be in a critical condition. The dog had to be destroyed. The 1 other accident happened when a woman was endeavouring to get out of a window of the building where the fire was in progress. The fire had originated through the fat catching fire when dinner was being prepared and there was a general rush for the window. The woman was evidently pushed during the general confusion and fell heavily to the ground, sustaining injuries to the face and one leg. The hospital reports her condition as not very serious. VERDICT OF SUICIDE. Christchurch, April 14. Suicide by drowning was the verdict returned by the Coroner, Mr Mosley, S.M., at the inquest to-day on Hannah Packer, single, aged 60. whose body was found yesterday on the New Brighton beach. Evidence was given that Miss Packer had been very depressed since undergoing an operation for goitre four weeks ago. She left her home between Thursday night and Friday morning leaving a note to her sister with whom she lived. LABOURER INJURED. Oamaru, April 14. A labourer, George Menzies, while feeding a circular saw for cutting timber at Req, castle, met with a serious accident. The saw smashed and the teeth struck him on the forehead and penetrated his skull. He was taken to the hospital where an operation was found necessary. His condition is serious.