OHURA VALLEY

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 169, 1 July 1909, Page 5

OHURA VALLEY

Own Correspondent

A bosh accident of a serious nature

occurred at Tata. Obura Valley, on Monday last. A settler, named John Gilmore, was felling timber on Bft section when a large limb from a neighbouring tree came down and struck him to the ground. His mate. who was chwe by lost sight of bim. and on searching for bim found bim lying face downwards. On raising him op a great gosft of blood occurred from a large scalp wound, but fortunately the bleeding stopped. Assistance was got from tbeir camp, and a message sent to Or Rowlands through • the recently completed telephone to Mangaroa. A track bad to be cot through the scrub to get the injured ■tan to the camp, a matter of a quarter of a mile, and by the timw he had been laid on bis bed tbe doctor arrived, having traversed tbe 19 mites of exceedingly bad road in one boor and a half. By this time it was quite dark. Cholroform was administered, and an examination revealed a large scalp wound, seven inches long, and a compound depressed fracture of tbe skull; the bene being driven into tbe brain substance, and the membrane of the brain was torn, and two pieces ofbrain the size of a marble extended on the surface of the wound and were removed together with two loose fragments of bone. Tbe difficult operation of elevating the depressed bone: tying the arteries: and stitching the torn membrane of the brain and tbe scalp wound was performed by candle light, not even a lamp being obtainable. The patient's condition after the operation was, under the circumstances, satisfactory. Tbe doctor decided to have Gilmore removed to bis —the doctor's —residence the next morning by hand litter, the roads being impassable for vehicles, and jolting being less by this method. A targe party of settlers round Tatu. with that sympathy, goodwill and helpfutness to his comrade in times of stress or disaster, characteristic of a N.Z. bushman. be it said to his honour, collected together and undertook the laborious but' kindly task of carrying Gilmore over the 10 miles of bog and quagmire tbat serves as a road between Tatu and Mangaroa. They were met and relieved by a party from Managroa. The distance was negotiated in six hours, and Gilmore was taken in under the doctor's care, having borne the journey well. The latest news is that in spite of the terrible nature of the injuries and the fact that so vital a part as the brain was affected, the patient is quite conscious, and is progressing satisfactorily. The extensive wound has healed by first intention: some of the stitches have already been removed, and there is every hope of his compctete rccorevy. The late heavy rain has caused the biggest flood ever known in the Parabulia stream.

The roads throughout the Ohura and Aria districts are suffering from the wet weather, .and slips on the roads are frequently met with. Property at Matiere has been changing hands lately. Mr G. Phillips has sold his property at Mature to Mr Warren, and has also sold s*M> acres of splendid milUng bush to Mr A. H. Hyde, who is potting in a new milting plant. Mr Phillips has bought Whare Bell's block of land at Matiere. and intends to erect a tine dwelling house thereon.

A progressive euchre party and dance was held in the Nth© Niho butter factory on Friday evening last, the occasion being to celebrate the decision oa the Ongarue-Stratford railway. A masquerade ball, which is likely to prove a big affair, will be held at Matiere on the 9th July. The latest topic of conversation in the district has been the operation recently performed by Dr Rowlands, and words of praise have been heard on every side, not only upon the skill displayed by the doctor under most adverse circumstances, but also the action of those men who so willingly helped in what, to them, most have been a very trying ordeat. Mr D. Sullivan is laid up with an attack of pleurisy. He is at present staying with Mr C. Ryan, and with the good attention he is receiving is showing: signs of improvement. The latest cra2e on the part of the children in the district is selling postcards,, and it is to be hoped the prizes gamed by them will compensate them for their labours.

The burning question of the day at Mangaroa is: " Did the man get round the Squirrel!?"