A PECULIAR ACCIDENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 26, 24 December 1917, Page 5

A PECULIAR ACCIDENT.

WELLINGTON’S MAYOR ESCAPES SERIOUS INJURY. The Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke, C.M.G.) had a miraculous escape from serious, if not fatal injury on Friday when driving along the Hutt road in a motor-car (states the New Zealand Tubes). Mr Luke was motoring to Trentham in order to be present at the Christmas dinner that was being given to the 33rd Reinforcements, and v. hen passing through Kaiwarra a motor lorry loaded with bales of pelts was met. Just as tbe car was alongside, three bales, each weighing upwards of five hundredweight, fell off the wagon. One bale struck a stanchion which holds the hood of the car up. The direction of the fall was thereby altered, and the bale fell on to the running board. In doing so, however, it. grazed Mr Luke’s shoulder. Fortunately the iiood was up. otherwise there is little doubt but •that the bale would have fallen right into the. ear. The second hale fell alongside the ear, A third landed on the front wheel, and did considerable damage to the vehicle. Mrs Luke and a number of ladies who were in two cars immediately behind that occupied by the Mayor saw the accident. Mr Luke, who suffered slightly from shock, proceeded to Trentham in another motor-car.