MR. KEIR HARDIE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 81, 30 December 1907, Page 8

MR. KEIR HARDIE.

A MOTOR CAR' ACCIDENT. ■ :- HIS • ENGAGEMENTS CANCSILIiEp.: . Mr,-J.' Iveir Hjirdie's visit to Wellington has been -marred by; an .unfortunate accident'. On Saturdays forenoon His- Worship the -.Mayor (Hon. T. W. liislop)- took : tho visitor for spin in his .motor ~car.'V'tlipy got as far' '.as Tii-alii Bay/'and" ffiero"'two'..df tho ' tyres collapsed. • 'ThoMayoralrecfiptiotv- '.in 1 the .Town Hall , had been timed ~ fdr three. o'clook, ..aiid; it seemed-that, this, mishap '.'would'make it impossible for Mr. His,lop aijd.his guest to',get '.there by.-that hour. , It liappeded; : !iowever,' ' that ' a frifepd fof the . Mayor's, .was. ,nearr;.the : : spoti \a|id ;thiii gentleman,.: who' also ■ a motor, , car, volunteered ..to. bring Mi'/.. Hardie back ..to town. . Tlipy >got .along "yory. jvcll .uirtil tlifiy camo .'within half" a. mile';;ofJobriSonville, when,' thpyhail'', to ,pass\ soine. carte;'at:-: a narrow . part, of. ;the, road. » Coming :,uhes-. pectedly upon . the- last of the\-carts, , tfie. motorist drove .too ;ncar , the/side of-the road,., with the result that -the car was 1 overturned, a rid'its . occupants '.thrown; out.: Tfrey foil down a steep bank,' among some bushes,- and' while, his .companion cscape'd with a shaking, Mr. Keir Hardie struck against a. stump, ■ and. was a good deal hurt. Surgical aid was obtained at Johnsonville, and it was found that one of Mr. Hardie's ribs was .broken., Ho.'camo back to Welljiia'ton jby-. train,"'and 'proceeded to Mr. HiMop°s residence,: where, of; course,' every caro iild.v attention' - was ■.bestowed. .-upon , him:- H<f" slept well during. the night, and stated, that he felt .quite rested'.in the'' morning.' \He was able to sit .up in. bed and read yesterday, but tho doctor's orders, are,"tliafc*lie is to keep as quiet as possible for the pri> sent. He was,_ therefore^, obliged, to- decline to seo 'visitors. All his engagements cancelled, inclu'ding-r-very much against • hia : will—the lecture which lie was to.' liaye given last .night, and the. date of liis departure from Wellington'is-now uncertain. , . , ' ; .Word that Mr.'; Kbir 1 Hardie would not bo able ■ to' attend the Mayoral reception' in the' Concert' liooin of the -Town- Hall reached the gathering there, at 3.45 p.m. . About on* hundred ladies, and, gentlemen were .present. Tho 'Hon. J. Rigg announced ' that 1 ./ Mrs. Hislop had received ' a telephone messajz® that- a motor' car, accident.' had .occurred, which would delay the proceedings, arid L on this being announced by the Hon. s'. Rig the gathering'dispersed. '