TWO MEN KILLED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 115, 28 February 1950, Page 4

TWO MEN KILLED

CAR SOMERSAULTS ON ROAD SUN ROOF TORN OPEN (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 27. Two men were killed in a motor accident at Bell Block this evening. They were: Gordon Roper, married, a clerk, of New Plymouth. Claud Henry Leighton, married, an employee of the Land and Income Tax Department, New Plymouth. They were the only occupants of a car, from which they were flung on to the roadway when it somersaulted. There were no witnesses of the accident, but it is supposed that the car in which they were travelling towards New Plymouth got out of control and somersaulted several times. The sun roof was torn oen, and it is thought that the men were catapulted through itMr Roper was killed instantly, but Mr Leighton was still living when the police and the doctor arrived. He died before he reached hospital.

GIRL DROWNED IN RIVER WADED / INTO DEEP HOLE (P.A.) PALMERSTON N., Feb. 27. _ A young woman was drowned in the Manawatu River this afternoon. She was: ' • Hilda Pitikina, aged 21, of Foxton, employed in the Awapuni Hospital. With three others she went for a bath in the Manawatu River. She and another girl could not swim. They waded in the water and disappeared suddenly in a deep hole. The other two dived after them and brought both to the surface, but managed to get only, one ashore. YOUTH DROWNED BRAVE RESCUE ATTEMPT FAILS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, February 27. A courageous attempt by two friends failed to save the life of a young farm labourer who was drowned while swimming off Kawa creek, near Port Waikato, about noon yesterday. He was: — * - Douglas Payne, aged 18, youngest son of Mr F. Payne, of Waikaratu. Mr F. A. Fox, his wife and their son, Frank, aged 22, and Douglas Payne, who worked on the Fox's farm, were fishing fit. the beach near the outflow of Kawa creek. Mrs Fox and the two young men went bathing. The strong undertow carried Douglas Payne out. Mr Frank Fox, who is a good swimmer, went to the rescue and held him up until a big wave swept them apart. Mr Fox, sen., swam 300 yards out fully clothed, but there was no sign of Payne. He then assisted his almost exhausted son ashore.

The police searched last night and to-day, but the body has not been recovered.

BOY KILLED IN COLLISION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 27. ’ A hoy, aged 15 years, received injuries from which he died three hours later Avhen the bicycle he Avas riding and a ear collided at Karori to-day. He was: Brian McArley, of Beauchamp Street, . Karori. BOY CYCLIST KILLED BY FALL (P.A.) GORE, February 27. - A Chinese boy, Arthur Gee, aged 10, the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Willie Gee, Kitchener Street, Gore, died from injuries suffered when he;, fell from a bicycle after running into a sheep at. East Gore on Friday afternoon. He was admitted to hospital, and died this morning.

WATERSIDER’S DEATH (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 27. Peter Horo, a waterside worker, died in the New Plymouth Hospital this evening. He was injured last Tuesday in- an accident on hoard . the vessel Orari, in Avhich he was Avorking at New Plymouth. A leg was severely crushed. He Avas a married man, aged 48.