PUKEKURA FARMER KILLED LAST NIGHT

Waikato Independent, Volume XLV, Issue 6282, 26 August 1949, Page 4

PUKEKURA FARMER KILLED LAST NIGHT

: A' s most' * unfortunate tragedyoccurred early last evening at i Pukekura ; when- \ a well-known > farraeJ-sharemilkeßr*-; u MR. WILLIAM: ALAN GRAY ; ■•'•; (married, aged SO) was killed when! he fell with his horse'down. an. embankment on tye property of his employers, the Jamieson Estate. It appears that Mr Gray left the cowshed'on horseback at about 5 p.m. to go totherear.of the farm to bring up >some;buHs. When he did not return by 5.30 his. two sons, becoming concerned, went to-s the rear of the property. There they saw the horse standing with thtf reins trailing and minus the saddles The farm dog was standing nearby on the top of a bank. At this portion of the farm the country is broken with much scrub and blackberry. "A search was made by the sons without success. They then returned Ijo ther home and communicated with Constable Warren. A search was organised by the police, neighbouring farmers assisting with tractor lights and torches. The body was subsequently found about 50 to 70 feet down a steep face below the bank and lying in dense blackberry. The saddle was lying alongside the body. It could be seen that the blackberry and growth from the bank down the slope had been flattened. It is thought that the horse stumbled and rolled with deceased down the slope. Inquest Opened The body was conveyed to deceased's residence where an inquest was opened before Mr R. S. Entwistle, coroner. Dr. L. F. Johnson gave evi, dence of examination of the body and it was identified by one of the sons. The inquest was then adjourned sine die, an order directing a post-mortem. The late Mr. Gray had resided with his wife and family at Pukekura for the past two years, having previously farmed at Eureka. Much sympathy will be felt for Mrs. Gray and the'i members of the family. The,' are Huon, Quinton, Michael, and Diana and all reside at the Pukekura home.