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Manawatu Herald, 5 September 1903, Page 2

mentary precautions by parents is j bad enough, without considering the loss which may result by the untimely termination of lives which might in time become useful additions to the community, but it is perhaps even more to be regretted that through the want of reasonable care on the part of their elders boys not infrequently have to go through life with the unhappy consciousness that they have been the cause of the death of a companion* or worse still of a brothel; oif sisiCrt Even though in the Dannevitke Case no blame can be attached to the boy who caused the accident, it seems to us, as far as we can gather froth the telegraphed ifepdjfts, that the tragedy could have been avoided by the observance of ordinary precautions by the father of one of the victims, and it is certainly a most important duty on the part of parents and as Well in their own interests as in those of their Children, to take such reasonable precautions as will prevent these distressing accidents occurring. It is perfectly obvious that in the large majority of such cases a very small degree of ordinary care would prevent their occurrence, attd when such Care is wanting those who are re* sponsible for it cannot be regarded as blameless. And it is even more culpable to allow youog boys, as is fre; guently done, to have the handling of firearms before they have attained an age at which they can be expected to exercise due care and discretion. Whilst we cannot but express our Sincere regret at the sad occurrence at Bannevirke and oUr sympathy with those affected by it, we hope the warning it affords to others to exercise more care in this important matter will not pass unheeded.