FAMILY DROWNED IN RIVER

Southland Times, Issue 23735, 6 February 1939, Page 6

FAMILY DROWNED IN RIVER

YOUNG MOTHER AND THREE CHILDREN TRAGEDY AT WHANGAREI (United Press Association) WHANGAREI, February 4. The bodies of Mrs Edward Wii, aged 21, and her three children were found floating in the Pataura River yesterday. The woman had left some time before on horseback to visit her father and had to ford the river, which is about three feet deep at that spot. No one saw what happened, but the horse was found riderless. ORDEAL OF COAL MINER INJURED BY FALL OF ROCK EIGHTY-MILE JOURNEY TO HOSPITAL (United Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, February 4. Injured in a fall at the White Rock coal mine, 27 miles up the Mokau River at 5.30 p.m. yesterday,, John Joseph Spiers, 28 years old, a single man, had to be taken 12 miles in a rowing boat, two in a launch, and 70 in the district nurse’s car to New Plymouth Hospital, where he arrived at midnight. Spiers, whose home is at Huntly,. was severely injured in the spine when a rock fell away from the mine roof without warning and struck him on the back. Another fall started, but the injured man was removed in time by Mr H. Jones, a part-owner of the mine. Mr Jones carried Spiers to the river and placed him in a boat, taking him 12 miles before they were met by a launch. , FRACTURED SPINE PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE INJURED David Ryan, aged 36, was admitted to the Southland Hospital yesterday afternoon with a fractured spine. He was a passenger in a car which capsized on the road between Mossburn and Te Anau, pinning him under the front seat. He is an employee of the Public Works Department, and was returning to his work. His condition is serious. ALLEGEDLY STRUCK WITH HAMMER

(United Press Association) GISBORNE, February 5. Allegedly struck on the head with a hammer by a fellow, employee after an argument, William Farmilo, a carpenter, was admitted to the hospital, where he is under observation, although his injuries are not serious. Farmilo bled freely from a wound over the right eye. He was conveyed to the hospital by the St. John Ambulance Farmilo was engaged on the State houses. CAR AND CARAVAN LEAVE ROAD (United Press Association) TAIHAPE, February 4. An unusual accident occurred a mile from Taihape at 5.30 p.m. yesterday, when a car driven by J. Stellin, of Wellington, crashed over a bank. The driver was accompanied by his wife and two daughters. The wife who was in the front seat, received a broken collarbone. While negotiating a sharp bend on a down grade Stellin swung wide, and the car, which had a caravan attached, skidded in the loose metal. The brakes were applied, but the caravan forced the car on and over the bank. The caravan, swerving across the road, was struck by a following car. After a fall of 20ft it came to rest in some trees. It was badly damaged. Mrs Stellin is making satisfactory progress. BOY INJURED IN PILLOW FIGHT Colin Gamble, aged 10, of Otara, was admitted to the Southland Hospital yesterday with a fractured left arm. His injury was suffered when he fell ■off a trestle in a pillow-fight. SUDDEN DEATH John Lawrence Reynolds, aged 54, a returned soldier, died suddenly at his home at 159 Don street yesterday.