FARMER'S DEATH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 17, 17 October 1944, Page 5

FARMER'S DEATH

ACCIDENT AT WAIMANA

MOST! UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES

The sudden and unexpected death of Mr Robert a well known and widely respected farmer of Waimana ( last Saturday threw a gloom over the whole settlement. The late Mr Fleming came to his end iin ai tragic and singular manner which according to medical evidence; at the held' at Waimana yesterday is almost without parallel.

Owning a well known and spirted hunter Mr Fleming went some •J

istance, from his home to catch the

animal in order to ride it to the store. He -succeeded and tried it ovei several gates. In the process of negotiating one of these he was thrown heavily when the horse baulked. However lie recaptured the

animal and after taking it over oral other hurdles, finally rode it tc the settlement as intended. He had dismounted and was» talking to a resident when his attention waf

drawn to the horse's action behind

iim ? and in turning his; head sud

denly he, fell to the ground and died before help could reach him.

•From medical evidence bj r Dr. James of Opoti'ki at the inquest, it is surmised that the initial fall sustained by the deceased earlier in the day had actually been the cause of a broken or fractured neck which was countered by the fact that the muscles were, tensed for a short time thereafter as deceased went about his Avork. It. was only when he made the quick sudden movement that the full extent of his injury made itself apparent with fatal results. The late Mr Fleming was fiftyseven years of age, and was * born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, where his parents farme,d a "large tract of pastoral land and owned three mills. He was educated in his home town but as a young decided to migrate to New Zealand and try out the prospects of the, younger country. At. twenty-one years of age he landed in the South Island and worked at Oamaru on a large farm. Coming north, he joined the staff of Hellaby's Ltd. in Auckland and worked there for some years. In~ 1913 in partnership with hi? cousin Mr J. P. Gaulfield now of he purchased a team of horses; and commenced wool carrying in the Gisborne area. It was during this period that he met with many adventures as the country was then in its rough state and roads were almost non-existent.

Later the two decided to settle in Waimana and purchased 200 acres which, constitutes the, present Fleming farm. After the Great War the partnership was dissolved, Mr Fleming continuing on the property.

Since that Mr Fleming has' distinguished himself in the life of the community, where he was universally respected. He served a term as director of the Waimana cheese and also as County Councillor for the riding. He will be missed by many who had come to know him as a true friend and gpod neighbour.

He is survived by his widow and three children Mrs E. Looney (Waiotahi) Mrs M. Brown (Napier) and Mr Ve'sey Fleming (Waimana) . There are four grand-children.