ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2683, 13 December 1909, Page 4

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

SUDDEN DEATH IN GISBORNE.

A tragically sudden death took place in Gisborne on Saturday evening, when an old .man named Robert ar Un, about 60 years of age, expired, the cause of death being heart failure. Deceased, who was a laborer, uas returning from his work at the wharf to his home in Whataupoko, shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday, and called in at Mr. W. Hay’s bootmaking shop, Peel Street, where he had left a pair of hoots to he repaired. He leaned over the counter, then turned round to another customer, Mr. Herbert Mercer who Avas sitting m a ebe.r. and asked if ho could sit down, as he did not feel well. He was placed in the chair and on beiii 0- askedT if be. Ai'anted a drink, said be-wanted nothing. As the man was looking univell, Mr. Hay telephoned for Dr. -Scott. On the doctor arriving he announced life to be extinct, death being due to natural causes., Serge.* nt Hutton was notified, and he removed the body to. the morgue, where it is at present lying, the sergeant awaiting instructions from the Coroner (Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M.), who is up the Coast. Sergeant Hutton afterwards saw the deceased’s wife, who stated the deceased had been m good health up to Saturday at dinner time, when he said he Avas not feeling well, and did not eat much. He; JiOAvever, proceeded to his AA'ork. , , •, , An endeavor was mane yesterday to acquaint the Coroner of the death, but as he could not be reached, the sergeant will communicate Anth him this morning as to whether an inquest is necessary. „ r , . Besides the wife of the deceased, a grown-u.o family is left to mourn their loss. DROWNING FATALITY IN WAIHUKA RIVER. A droAA'ning fatality took place in the Waihuka River, about 14. -miles from Te ICaraka, yesterday afternoon, whereby Hugh O’Connor, a laborer employed on the Public Works Department, lost his life. .** , . The deceased left his mates in their tent near tho river, saying ie was goin o- for a swim. After some little time°had elapsed a cry was heard by the men in the tent, but 0 Connor could not be_,seen. About twenty minutes later the body Avas recovered in about nine feet of water. Owing to the country bureaus being closed, communication could not be cent to Constable Dovle at Te Karaka, but he will be notified this morning. An inquest will probably be held. YOUNG MAN DROWNED. {IV.n Pbkrs Association.! DARGAVILLE, Dec. 11. Arthur Roche, aged 21, has been droAvned. at the flaxmill. His mate, Christopher Billings, tried io save him, but was pulled under and nearly drowned too. He only freed himself arter a great struggle, and reached the bank exhausted. The bodv has been recovered by deceased’s brother, who only came up yesterday to pay him a visit. WELL-KNOWN OARSMAN DROWNED. WANGANUI, Dec. 11. Edward Hackett, an old resident of Wanganui, and at one time a wellknown oarsman, was drowned in the river at midnight on Thursday. He had been working at Parapa, and when coming home called at the house of Fred Allen, in order te borrow a boat to cross the river and so save a walk of tivo and a-half miles. He procured a boat, and shortly afterwards Allan heard a cry for help. He made Investigations, but no signs of the man could be found. WANGANUI, Dec. 12. The body of Edward Hackett. who was drowned in the river at midnight on Thursday, was found on Saturday afternoon. FOUND DROWNED. DUNEDIN, Dec. 11. At the inquest concerning the death of Samuel McDonald Alexander, whose body was found in the harbor yesterday, an open verdict was returned, the coroner stating that there was not sufficient evidence to show whether the drowning was wilful or accidental.