JUMPED OVERBOARD

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21303, 23 December 1940, Page 12

JUMPED OVERBOARD

SEAMAN DROWNED ATTEMPT TO SWIM ASHORE (By Tele*rapb.—Special to Times) WHANG ARE I, Sunday Jumping overboard after his vessel had left the Portland wharf and attempting to swim ashore, an able seaman was drowned yesterday afternoon. He was Mr Frederick Smith, aged 31, married, with three children, of 9 Holiday Road, Milford, Auckland. . Mr Smith was a member of the crew of the coastal steamer Miena. The vessel had completed loading cement at the Portland wharf and had commenced the return trip to Auckland at about 4 p.m. yesterday, when, about 150 yards from the wharf, Mr Smith was seen to jump overboard and to attempt to swim ashore, but he sank after swimming a short distance. A search failed to locate Mr Smith and the Whangarei police were notified. Dragging was carried out until darkness and the work was resumed early this morning, but without result. GREY RIVER DROWNING GIRL FALLS FROM BRIDGE • (By Tei«irraDTi.—soecra! to Times) GREYMOUTH, Sunday The fourth drowning in recent weeks on the West Coast occurred early this afternoon. The victim was Miss Dora Kittelty, aged 19, of Cot Jen. The girl was seen to fall over the rail of the Cobden-Greymouth traffic bridge into the Grey River, a drop of about 30ft. Two boys saw her floating down the river for about 50 yards, when she disappeared. No trace of the body has been found, although dragging was carried out during the afternoon. CRASH THROUGH WINDOW GIRL MOTOR-CYCLIST (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) HASTINGS, Sunday A fracture of the right leg and severe cuts to the arms, legs, face and chest were suffered by a girl when the motor-cycle she was riding crashed through the plate - glass window of a draper’s shop at Napier on Saturday night. The victim was Miss Ngaire Newport, aged 17 years, of Owen Road, Napier. Miss Newport was riding the cycle down Nelson ~ Crescent at about 7 p.m., and on approaching an intersection had some difficulty in changing gear. The cycle crossed the pavement and plunged through the window. A soldier from the artillery barracks rendered first aid, and the injured girl was taken to hospital, where ain operation was performed. Her condition was at first considered serious, but she was making satisfactory progress late tonight. GROUND GIVES WAY VISITOR TO OHINEMUTU (By Telegrapn.—special to Times) ROTORUA, Sunday An unusual accident befel a visitor to Rotora while walking through the Ohinemutu village this afternoon. Without warning the ground crumbled beneath his feet and he found himself in boiling water. His condition this evening was reported by the Rotorua Hospital to be not serious. FATAL SPRINGBOARD DIVE (By Teleyrapß.—Special to Time*) AUCKLAND, Sunday Mr Grant Colin Butcher, aged 30, hotel porter, who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Thursday 9 suffering from severe head and spinal injuries, died this morning. Mr Butcher was injured when he dived from a springboard at Falls Park, Henderson, into shallow water on Thursday afternoon. COLLAPSE IN STREET (By Telegraph.—special to Tlmea) AUCKLAND, Sunday Following efforts to extinguish a gorse fire near his home on Saturday afternoon, a married man aged 33, Mr Charles Owen Lowther Broad, bank clerk, of Remuera, collapsed in the street and later died. Mr Broad played a hose on the flames until the arrival of a brigade from the Remuera station. An inquest was held and adjourned sine die. FALL AT AWAPUNI RACES (By Telegraph. —special to Times) PALMERSTON N., Sunday When she slipped in the main 6tand at the Awapuni racecourse yesterday, Mrs W. Duncan, of Ruanui, Taihape, wife of the well-known owner of Taurangi and Ruatiti, suffered a broken leg.