ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2516, 1 June 1909, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

ACCIDENTALLY SHOT

[Per Press Association.]

CI-IRISTOHURCH, May 31. At Kaikoura, on Saturday evening the mate of the Falocn was brought ashore in a local fishing smack suffering from a wound in the hack caused by accidental discharge of a pea rifle while shooting birds. A doctor ascertained the locality of the bullet and ordered the man to the hospital. The launch Spec brought him down to .Lyttelton.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT RUAKITURI

The following telegram was received from tho Wairoa police yesterday by Mr W. A. Barton, S.M.: “One man killed, another drowned at Ruakituri. On Ruakituri being connected by telephone it was found that two separate accidents had occurred.

On Saturday a man named Victor Berg was killed whilst hushfelling on Mr Mills’ station, a tree coming down upon him and crushing him so severely that he succumbed.

The second fatality occurred in tho same locality, a Maori hoy being drowned whilst attempting to ford the Ruakituri river.

Constable Torr, of Wairoa, went to Ruakituri yesterday to arrange for an inemost to he held.which was conducted before Mr A. L. BoUerby, J.P. In tho caso of the death of Victor Berg, the evidence showed that deceased, who was a Belgian, a single m-an, only a recent arrival in the colony, was with another felling a tree on Saturday last, when it fWr and springing off tho branch of another tree crashed down upon him, killing him instantly. Several other men who were felling a tree higher up the hillside, hearing the crash and the shouts of Berg’s mates, hastened to the rescue, hut by the time the poor fellow’s body could be extricated he. had succumbed. The jury returned <a verdict of accidentally killed. >. The accident to a Maori hoy occurred the same day as the fatality just mom tioned at tho ford of tho Ruakituri river, near Mr Mills’. The Ruakituri is described as the worst river in New Zealand. The boy’s horse got into a hole and he Avas Avashed off. A Maori tried to rescue, him, but failed. Tno jury' returned a verdict of accidentally drowned. ACCIDENT AT PATUTAHI. : While clipping a horse on Sunday afternoon at Patutahi, Mr H. Spraggo Avas kicked in the eye by the animal. The, force of the animal’s hoof stunned him for a time -and inflicted a nasty and painful Avound Avhich was attended to at Sister Wheeler’s hospital. It is not thought that the eye wi.l be injured. A WESTLAND RIVER ACCIDENT. HOKITIKA, May 31. Last Aveek, Avhen crossing the Big Wanganui River in a vehicle, Mr. Saraty, draper, Avas Avashed out of the trap and down the stream. Fortunately, he caught ai projecting rock whence he was-rescued Avitli some cliuicuitA u> Harold Hondo, the ferryman, who took considerable personal risk. Jhe horse and- trap were carried nearly a mile down the stream. The long promised bridge over tins dangerous crossing on the South road is anxiously looked for by travellers in South "Westland.

SUDDEN DEATH AT WANGANUI

WANGANUI, May 31. Mr H. Saynor Griffiths, manager of the local branch of Messrs Turnbull and Co., died suddenly this afternoon from a seizure of apoplexy. The deceased, avlio was 61 years of age. Asms for many years associated Avith the public life of the toAvn. and was very well knoAvn on the coast.

BODY OF A MISSING WOMAN FOUND.

AUCKLAND, May 31. On Mav 21st -it was reported that Airs Kenny, of Muuunui, a boardinghouse keeper, was missing from her home, and it was believed that she had committed suicide by jumping into the Wanganui river. To-day Inspector Cullen received a wire from Constable Maher, of Taumaranui, stating that yesterday he recovered the body ot Mrs. Kenny from the Wanganui rnei some distance below the supposed scene of the tragedy. RAILWAY HAND KILLED. - WANGANUI, May 31. A casual railway hand, Alexander McKay, aged 45, was killed afteinoon at the railway yards He did not see the tracks being shunted towardss him, and was killed instantly. STRUCK BY A TRAIN. WELLINGTON, May 31. The body oP William King was found near the 'railway line, about a mile south of Haward’s, on Sunday morning. At the inquest to-day it was stated that deceased was unmarried, and was -8 years of age. The evidence pointed to the fact that deceased, who, one wit ness said, had on Saturday night been slightly under the influence ot liquoi, had sat down on one ot the. sleepers, and was struck by the engine of a passing train. A verdict of accidental death was returned. A MILL ACCIDENT. TAIL!APE. May 31, A doctor was sent^“.ttoTldm/limd -rlo thc wlngaunritospihad him sent to tne o ,iefraytal the proprietor ol the null . - ing the expensesthe special train. KILLED BY A LANDSLIP. A fatal accident occurred at Koeke, caused by landslips, an d Pringle, laborer, .of^Hunter^ two others. n +hers were not sen;;sy°to.iui|r - engaged in the rescue woik. ■ fatal FALL FROM a CART. DUNEDIN, May 31. A single man named Robert Li>doU ft dSsedVmothcrSdcs at Blue Spar. Lawrence. v