MISHAP ON RANGE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1931, Page 5

MISHAP ON RANGE

COURT OF INQUIRY ORDERED

(liy Telegraph—Per Press Association)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 18

Allan Harvey Foato, a sixteeu-year-olcl pupil of the Christchurch Boys High School, was accidentally shot on the Redeliff.s rifle range early on Saturday morning. Foate resides at> 52, Totara Street, Riecarton. He is now in the Public Hospital in a satisfactorv condition.

A party of High School Cadets was to have gone down to the range to do some competition shooting, and several of the party arrived! on tSie scene by bicycle at eight o’clock. One of Font o’s companions, aged fifteen, years, had bis rifle. He had a cartridge with him, and he was Tnserting this in the breech of the riffle, an dthen ejecting it, when the loaded! weapon went off. Foate was standing about ten paces away, on the 300 yards mound, when the rifle went off,.and the bullet entered tlu* fleshy part of his leg.

Two boys immediately went to summon help, and met Captain YY. Hoqre ami Sergeant-Major A. L. Emerson, of the Permanent Staff, who were bringing up the ammunition preparatory to conducting the shoot. A doctor was summoned, and Foate was made comfortable with blankets borrowed from a near-by house. He was then removed to the Hospital by motor-car.

Flow the boy obtained the ammunition is not known, for at the time of the accident the rounds for the shooting had not arrived. It is believed that- when he had the rifle loaded he accidentally pulled the trigger, thua causing the accident. Owing to the circumstances surrounding the shooting, a Defence Department Court of Inquiry will investigate the matter this afternoon. Major I). E. liromner will preside and the other members of the court wil! be Captains A. M. Steelman and K. J. Walker.