ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 88, 9 December 1912, Page 3

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

While handling a pea rifle in his house at Western Springs on Sunday week, reports the ‘New Zealand Herald,’ Mr. Richmond Motion accidentally exploded it. The bullet grazed the flesh of Mrs. Motion’s left elbow, and the root of her right thumb before it passed out of the window. No bones were broken.

The ‘Lyttelton Times’ reports that at Waikari on Saturday evening, a young man named James Allen, son of Mr. J. Allen, farmer, met with a serious shooting accident. He was trying a new revolver, which he had puichased in Christchurch during the day. After he had fired the first shot the weapon accidentally went off, and the bullet passed through his check and forehead, inflicting a dangerous wound. He was attended by Dr. Little, and on Sunday was conveyed to Christchurch by motor-car for further surgical attention. It is believed that the sight or one eye has been destroyed.

The ‘Eltham Argus’ reports particulars of the runaway accident as telegraphed on Saturday. Mrs. J. Taylor, of Mangamingi, drove into Eltham with her three little children, and tied the horse to a verandah post while doing some shopping. The horse broke away from the post, with the trap, leaving the blinkers on the post. Several bystanders attempted to catch the animal, but failed, their efforts being rendered futile by the lack of something to grasp. On colliding with the telegraph post the trap was literally smashed to matchwood, portions flying into both the adjacent paddocks, while the horse also suffered, and was led* away" in a very lame condition. Willing hands quickly rescued the children from the debris, the frantic mother not being in a condition to do anything herself. The sad plight of the little ones excited the utmost sympathy. It was ascertained that the little ones, who are all of a tender age, suffered somewhat serious injuries. The little boy’s nose was broken, and his face badly cut, the girl is suffering from concussion of the brain, while the baby sustained a fractured skull. However, the' papfcr adds that there is every prospect of the sufferers attaining a complete recovery.