DEATH OF MR. G. NIELD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2065, 17 December 1907, Page 2

DEATH OF MR. G. NIELD.

FATAL TRAP ACCIDENT NEAR TOLAGA. Quit© a gloom was cast over Gisborne yesterday morning, when the news of tho death of Mr. C. A. Niold, of Evans, Niold and Co., was received. Flags all over the town, and on the vessels in port were lialf-mast-ed as a mark of respect. Mr. Niold loft Gisborne on Saturday afternoon 'in a trap on a business visit to Tolaga. He left Hauiti on tho re-' turn journey on Sunday night, and yesterd'ay morning he wa)s found dead on the road by Mr. O. Olsen, tho buggy being found damaged in a gully, and the horse was slightly cut. Mr. Olson proceeded to Tolaga, and wdth assistance the body was 'conveyed thither. Deceased has spent twenty years in Gisborne, and during that time he has made a. great circle of friends, who will mourn his loss. Ho was Senior AVarden of Lodge Aborcorn, and was connected with the Druids, of which body he was a strong member. Deceased was 46 years of -age, and leaves a widow and' four daughters, and one son.

THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon, before Mr. W. E. Holder, J.P., and tho following jury:—Messrs. Ollivier (foreman), E. -Reid, G. Kil'burn, J. Maddock, D. Hurroy, and J. P. Murphy. The first witness called was <R. Gardiner, who deposed that deceased left Oldfield’s at 2.30 on Sunday afternoon in the best of spirits. That was the last he saw of him until ho saw the body at Tolaga. G. «. AVilliams stated that he was speaking to the unfortunate man at half-past 5 on Sunday. He said he was going to P-a-karae that night, Witness remarked that the horse could not go that far, as it was tired. Deceased agreed with this, butthought he could get there all right. They shook hands and parted. Erio -Slfelton -saw -Mr. Nield on the Tolaga side of the hill; he was then out- of the buggy and leading the horse up the 'hill. He did not stop, but just bid him “Good evening,” and went on. his way. AA’itness was the last person who saw him alive. C. Olsen, who was- proceeding to Mr. Loisel’s station, AVai-hau, was coming over the Tolaga- hill at- 5.30 yesterday morning, when he noticed some -migs on the side of the hill, and he looked round, -wondering what thev were doing there, and he discovered the broken buggy .-among _ the grates, and then saw deceased, whom he believed to be de'ad. iHe -rode back to Tolaga- and informed tlie police, who, accompanied by Dr. Weeks and Mr. Murphy, drove to the spot and found Mr. iNield quite dead. Tlie pa rty brought the body back to Tolaga, where they -arrived about half-' past 8. -An examination of deceased showed that his neck was broken.

Dr. Weeks gave medical evidence. He. said that death must have been instantaneous. A verdict that deceased' met his death in a trap accident- by going over the side of the hill wa6 returned, no blame being attachable to anyone.

The body leaves Tolaga this morning. and should arrive in town about midday. Members of -Lodge Turanganui. U.A.0.D., are to attend the funeral of deceased, which is to take place at 2.30 o’clock t-o-niorrow.

There -was a. full attendance of members of the Gisborne Fire Brigade at- tlie meeting called 1 at. the slued last night in reference to the death of their late 'secretary, Foreman C. A. Nield, and great -regret was expressed by the members at their, loss. It- was decided to-send a letter of condolence to tho widow and family of deceased, and also that a w-reat-li -lie sent, and the members art to attend the funeral ini dress uniform, meeting -at- the shed at 2 o’clock to-morrow afternoon.