Fatal Accident

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 21, 18 August 1891, Page 2

Fatal Accident

" On Saturday night last a fatal- accident occurred at Awahuri. It appears that Mr John Hooban, a very old settler, at CampbeJitown, was driving from Palmerston towards his home, accompanied by a nephew who had just arrived from Ireland. They stopped at the Awahnn hotel, and when they were within a passing brake conveying footballers alarmed the horse, which bolted- A man rode after the runaway and brought it safely back to the hotel. The two then got into the trap again, and drove away down the Campbelltown road. The horse appears to have bean very restive and difficult to manage, if one may judge by the wheelmarks on the side of a shallow cutting which show that it was not under proper control. At the termination of the cutting, near Mr Desmond's gate, the wheel mark again was very plain, and clearly indicated lhat the affrighted animal was going fast when it turned in towards the gale. The horse was bred on that farm, six years ago, which will explain why it took that road. The nephew, who appears to have been driving, was thrown forward to the right ! of the horse, with the seat of the vehicle between his legs, and beyond a tuere shaking, was uninjured. Mr / Hooban was thrown in a line parallel with the road a distance of about twelve feet, and received such injuries in the body, that death followed in a few hours. £Le must have lost a good deal of blood because the ghastly stains were still visible on the way side on the following day. The horse was siunned by the shock and was found lying on his back, when Mr Desmond, who heard the noise, ran out to see what was the matter. The injured man was promptly carried inside the house, and Dr Johnston was sent for, but. on the arrival of the latter he declared the case hopeless The circumstances surrounding the case are very sad. A few years ago the deceased got out from Home one of his nephews, to both of whom he was much attached, and the young fellow had not been long out to gladden the old man's heart, when he was killed, at the Oroua Downs Station where he was employed, by a bale of wool crushing iiiru. Not long aga Mr Hooban sent for the second nephew, who arrived in Palmerston on {Saturday,, and it was in taking the young man home to his new, abode, that the unfortunate man met his fade. In inquest was held at Mr Desmond's house, near Awahuri, yesterday.