FATAL ACCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 221, 30 September 1901, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT.

AN OLD OAKVRA SETTLER KILLED. , The police received word on Saturday tbat an old Oakura settler, Mr. James' Sefton, had been killed that morning by a fall frO'Yi a horse. The details of the accident showed that deceased left his house n r nr Oakura at about 9.30 on Saturday morning, riding a pony. He was not a good io'seman, and though the pony was quiet be stems to have not been able to quite manage it. When opposite Mr. Wareham's property a cyclist, Mr. John Ross, of Obristchurch, came along, and tha pony became "restless. However, Mr. 1 Ross rode past very slowly, the horse remaining quietly near a gateway on j the side of the road. Shortly afterwards another cyclist, Mr. Jas, E, . Green, also of Ohristchurch (who is on I a tour with Mr. Ross), rode along, and i thepony became frightened, swerving II from side t> side apparently uncontrolled by Mr. Sefton. Mr. Green, 1 s eirg that the horse was giving so ; much trouble, dismounted and walked i ; past. He then -looked back and saw Mr. Sefton getting offithe pony (as he : thought), and when half off he seemed 1 to fall to the .ground, Mr. Green at > once went to his assistance and pulled j • Mr, fciefton to the side of the roid. I He did not think the old man w»s . b-idly hurt, and as he knew no one' there he decided to ride on and obtain i as istance as soon as possible. He did ■ so and on reaching the Oakura factory, a few hundred yards away, informed I those whom he saw there of the acci- • dent, and continued his journey as he j could do no more. Mr. 0. Pen warden' , and othe s went back, and when they , reached the spot found Mr. Sefton I dead, and removed him lo his home;' ' Y s'ei'd.iy Mr. Stanford, Coroner, j held an ii qu st at Oikura, when the . evidence ol" s v r.d witne ses was ■ taken, bearing < ut the fac's as stated ■ above. D\ McL?llatd seated the! [ cause of death-to be effanon of blood . on the hriin, caused by ompre<sioa.of r the sl ull. T e injury mijijhfr! h V ■ l ean cu ed by a short fall, such as h d 1 bueo de crib d. The jury returned a 1 r verdict of accddntal deith, no blame , bein» a'tachable to anyone. M«s»rs Ross and Green, the cyclists, ' had ri ached Opunake before learning of the fatal termination of the accident, | and immediately returned for the in . quest, ' The dere sed was a very o]4 settler | in the district, having resided at .■ Oakura for a number of years past, ■ being highly respected by all who knew, ; him. He ws formerly in the 65th ' regiment. He leaves a widow and grown-up family, several of whom | reside in Taranaki, and they will have , ihe sympathy of a large circle of friends t in their sad bereavement.