FATAL ACCIDENT

Te Puke Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 26, 11 April 1939, Page 5

FATAL ACCIDENT

DEATH OF MR PATRICK McKenna

Universal, regret will be felt all over the district at the death of Mr Patrick McKenna, who passed away at the Tauranga hospital shortly before eleven o’clock on Wednesday fmorning last, following serious injuries received on his farm at Ohauti on Tuesday afternoon. Mr McKenna was engaged in topdressing paddocks and was driving the machine, when one of the

■ horses got a leg over the chains. He proceeded to adjust the chains and. his hat blew off and frightened the team which bolted. The topdresser struck Mr McKenna with •considerable force and he was knocked down and received serious spinal injuries. Mr Trevor Harris, an employee on the farm, went to Mr McKenna’s assistance. Dr. Mark, who was called by telephone, went out immediately, and Mr McKenna was removed by the St. John Ambulance to the Tauranga Hospital. It was at once recognised that his condition was serious, and he gradually sank and passed away as stated above. Mr McKenna was born at Orwell Creek, near Ahaura, Westland, fifty-eight years ago. As a young man he was gold mining on the West Coast, where he was married. He took ud land and was farming at Ahaura for six years. He moved to the Waikato in 1915 and farmed i there for three years. He then land in the Whangarei district and was there for six years where he served on the County Courk.il. About ten years ago he bought the Ohauiti Homestead Block, near Tauranga, and later sold it and secured another farm further up the Ohauiti Road, which he improved and developed. He also owned land in the Te Tumu district,

Mr McKenna took a very keen interest in public affairs and always associated himself with movements that were calculated to advance the district. His long association with the;land made him a valuable member ot the farming community. For rgome years he had represented the Te Puke Riding on the Tauranga County Council and. was one of the •Government nominees on the Tauranga Harbour Board. He was President of the Tauranga Branch of the Labour Party and held a seat on the Tauranga Licensing Committee. He is survived by Mrs and two daughters, Mrs. W. F. Jenner (Whakatane) and Miss Margaret McKenna. Twosisters and a brother reside in Auckland. The relatives will have the sympathy of many friends in their sudden and irreparable loss.