BACK BLOCKS TRIAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1095, 18 January 1912, Page 4

BACK BLOCKS TRIAL.

AN INJURED WORKER

CARRIED TWENTY-FOUR

MILES

The Taumarunui correspondent of the New Zealand Herald writes :

The accident which befel Charles Canton on Thursday evening occurred at Retaruke (some twenty-four miles from Raurimu). Canton was at work on Mr Venter’s property, engaged in sawing through a log, which lay on the top ot a bank 30ft deep. When the log had almost been cut through it rolled down the bank, and Canton rolled with it, sustaining serious injuries. Several of his ribs were broken, his head was badly injured, and there was scarcely a portion of his body which was not cut or bruised.

Mr G. Way, a neighbouring settler, galloped immediately to the Kaitikei Post Office, and telegraphed for Dr. Nelson, of Ohakuue, who came through via Raurimu early on Friday morning. For three hours he patched and mended the bruised body, setting the ribs temporarily in plaster of Paris, and sewing up the cuts. He had to pause from time to time to allow the patient to recover his strength of nerve so as to endure the ordeal.

By the time it was over some dozen men had assembled, and at 9.30 on Friday morning they proceeded to carry the injured man by relays to Ree’s, a distance of some 15 miles. It was seven o’clock in the evening when they got there, the roads being very bad.

The second stage ot the journey was accomplished next day, Mr Way being despatched to Raurimu with instructions to try and stop the night express, which would carry the patient to the Hamilton Hospital. Mr Way’s first appeal to the department met with a refusal, the official in charge expressing regret at his inability to order the stoppage of the mail train. Mr Way, however, telegraphed to Mr Smith (member lor Waimarino), and through his good offices consent was given to the train stopping. The injured man was by this means safely carried to the Hamilton Hospital.