ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1928, 10 December 1913, Page 8

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

MAKABA DROWNING CASE. THE EFFORT TO SAVE.' The inquest concerning the death o-f John Tonks, who was drowned at Makara on Sunday, was concluded yesterday morning. In returning a verdict of accidental drowning, Mr. AY. G. Riddel!, S.M., commejided Herbert Roy Hunt, the deceased lad's companion, for his efforts to save deceased, In the course of evidence, young. Hunt stated that he and Tonks had cycled through Polhill Gully to Makara on Sunday morning, and shortly before noon they had gone into tiio stream to bathe. The stream was shallow, and he (witness) oimld swim fairly well. Deceased could < only swim about ten yards. Deceased took a dive into a

pool, and witness, who, at, the time, was sonic little distance away, noticing thnt he was in difficulties, wont tn his assistance-. Witness got Isold of his companion liy the. waist, and also by various other grips, but deceased struggled and pulled him under, so that finally he had to forcibly extricate himself. Hunt reached the bank ill an exhausted condition, and called for aid, but the body was not recovered from the soft mud in the bottom of the pnol for some time. He thought that if deceased had not lost his presence of mind, he could have, reached shallow water.

The Coroner said that the evidence showed that deceased' met his death through one of those unfortunate accidents which were continually happening. Apparently, he lost his presence of mind. The verdict would be lliafc Tonks was drottjied accidentally in the Mitknra Stream. "Deceased's companion, Hunt, must be commended for trying to save his friend's life." remarked the Coroner. "He did all he could in the circumstances—trying circumstances to him—but was unsuccessful."

INQUEST ORDERED. An inquest- will be opened at 9.1.0 this morning touching the death of the infant whose body was found on tho I'etone beach on Monday. The inquiry will b c hdd at the city courthouse. INSTANTANEOUS DEATH. OSj- Teletraph.—i'r«3 AubusulMitiJ Waipawa, December 0. Mr. W. R. Fmtlis, a settler at Wanstead, aged forty, was thrown, from a dray on Saturday. The wheel passed over his head, and death was instantaneous. 'SERIOUS BLASTING ACCIDENT. Cisirarna, December !). A startling accident-' occurred at Walpare, near Tokoiuaru Hay, to-day. A Maori named Hunia, aged about 33 j'cars, was engaged blasting posts, and after lighting; a fuse he carelessly tossed the dead match into a tin of powder. He was blown some distance, and \ui clothing caught lire, the body being painfully burned, while be will lose the sight of one eye. Tie was removed to the Waianu Hospital, where he is in an extremely critical condition. OLD MAN DIES SUDDENLY. Dunedin, December 9. Richard Hay, aged 71 years, residing at fid Stafford Street, died suddenly about ',) o'clock this morning. Deceased belonged to Cromwell. 'I'or some time ho had been troubled with his heart. He was advised several times to see a doctor, but he never did so. At about 5..1.5 he was coughing, and asked for a drink of giii. He said he did not feel well, so Dr. Church was sent for, but May died before the doctor arrived.