FATAL ENDING

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1932, Page 5

FATAL ENDING

DEATH OF W. A. SAIITH

The accident on Monday f at Ross to Air W. A. Smith, recorded by our Ross correspondent yesterday ended fatally at Westland Hospital, the injured man not having recovered consciousness after receiving his injury which included a badly fractured skull. The deceased was a son of Mr and Airs William Smith, old and highly respected residents, of Hampden Streep and had been a resident of Ross for a a number of years, for the last eight years being an employee of Stuart and Chapman Ltd., mill there. He was a well-known poultry fancier and last year had a trio of white leghorns in the Christchurch egg-laying competition. Deceased was a native of Hokitika and 45 years af age. He joined tho Fifth Reinforcements in~1914, taking part in , the big - war, and came back with the rank ,of corporal and was awarded the Military Medal for special services. Deceased leaves a -j widow and two daughters, father and mother (Mr and Mrs W. Smith of Hampden Street) one sister (Mrs Griffiths of Otaki) and two brothers (Thomas of Christchurch, and George of Canada). To the relatives will be extended the deep sympathy of the community in the sudden bereavement that has overtaken them.

An inquest will lie held this afternoon by an acting coroner and jury, end the funeral will take place to Hokitika cemetery to-morrow morning.