WOMAN’S DEATH ON BIG ISLAND

Southland Times, Issue 24422, 30 April 1941, Page 7

WOMAN’S DEATH ON BIG ISLAND

MEMBER OF PARTY OF

MUTTON-BIRDERS

The sudden death occurred at Big Island on Monday of Mrs May Waan Fvfe wife of Mr George Fyfe, oysterman’ of Bluff. She was a member of a party of mutton-birders operating on the island. When the scow Horouta called with stores early m the morning she was apparently m good health, but collapsed shortly after the departure of ths scow, while carrying stores up to the camp. Fires were immediately lit and smoke signals sent up These were observed by a nephew of the deceased, Mr George Fyfe, jun., who was fishing off the South Cape. He answered the call and brought the body to Bluff, which was reached early yesterday morning. An inquest was opened at Blutt yesterday before the Coroner, Mr R. C. Abernethy, and adjourned for a post 'mortem to be held. Evidence of identification was given by the husband of the deceased. Frederick Cross, of Invercargill, labourer, stated that he was mutton-birding on the island with the party of which the deceased was a member. The deceased was carrying a parcel up the track from the beach to the camp when she collapsed and died soon after. MAN INJURED AT BREAKSEA Yesterday afternoon the launch Endeavour in charge of Mr K. Bradshaw, arrived at Bluff with a casualty from Breaksea (mutton-bird) Island, about 24 miles from Halfmoon Bay. The injured man was Mana Mihaku, single, aged 22, of Temuka, who received head

and chest injuries apparently through slipping on a rock while mutton-bird-ing. He left the hut at 2.30 p.m. and was discovered at 5 o’clock lying unconscious beside a large rock. Mr Bradshaw was fishing near the island yesterday morning when he noticed distress smoke signals from Breaksea. The injured man had only partly recovered consciousness when Bluff was reached. He was conveyed by ambulance to the Southland Hospital.