SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO MR. CONYERS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 865, 23 January 1879, Page 2

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO MR. CONYERS.

In last evening's edition, we published a- - brief telegram, announcing. that Mr. Conyers, Commissioner of Railways, had been thrown off the engine of the opening train, and had" received a serious wound on the head. Since then, the following particulars are to hand : Intercargill, January 22. A telegram was received from Gore announcing a sad catastrophe. It appears that Mr. Conyers, the Commissioner of Railways, was standing on one of the engines as the train approached the Gore bridge, when he suddenly overbalanced himself, falling to the ground very heavily. A severe gash was inflicted over the eye. The latest intelligence reports him as lying at Gore in an insensible condition, and bleeding profusely at the nose and ears. This sad occurrence cast a deep gloom over the whole of the after-proceedings. Re Mr. Conyers, the latest telegram received here at half-past 8 from Gore, where he lies at Green's hotel, is that appearances are more favorable ; he is in a critical condition, however, suffering from concussion of the brain, and remains insensible. It appears the tank he struck was temporarily erected on a pile of sleepers, and was thus closer to the line than is usual. There is no doubt the accident occurred through his striking the pile of sleepers mentioned. Dunedin, January 22. A telegram from the Hon. J. Ballance to the Hon. R. Stout, sent from Gore at 4.20 p.m., states that Mr. Conyers, in passing from a carriage near the station, came in contact with a tank, and fell, receiving a terrible blow on the forehead. He remained unconscious at the time the telegram was sent, and the doctors feared he might not recover. Mr. Ballance adds that the sad accident has completely marred the trip. A telegram from Gore, at 8 p.m., to the Hon. J. Macandrew states that Mr. Conyers was knocked off the engine by coming into collision with the stand of the water tank, while he was hanging over the side of the engine, looking back on the line, the train having just run over a dog. The engine was not at full speed, but was going at a considerable rate. At 8 p.m. there were some signs of improvement in Mr. Conyers' condition, but he still remained insensible. A special train is coming to-night from Christchurch, bringing Mrs. Conyers. This train will leave Dunedin for Gore at 6.30 to-morrow. Great anxiety is felt concerning Mr. Conyers. Numbers of people have called at the railway offices, enquiring for particulars as to his condition. The Daily Times received the following special telegram at midnight from one of the medical gentlemen attending Mi 1 . Conj'ers : " Gore, January 22, 10.30 p.m.

" Mr. Conyers was on the engine coming into East Gore, when he had occasion to lean over the side, something having attracted his attention. His head came in contact with a water-tank, which, it appears, is dangerously near the line. He was stunned, but held on for some fifty yards, when he tumbled off, and when picked up was insensible, suffering from severe wounds on the right temple, causing concussion of the brain. He is still unconscious, but is progressing as favorably as can be expected. " J. Gibson Smith."

VERY LATEST. Wellington, January 23. An official telegram re Mr. Conyers, says there are slightly more favorable symptoms, but still he is in a very precarious state, Dr. Skae and two others are attending him. The Association's own correspondent says that although Mr. Conyers is still unconscious, he is progressing as favorably as can be expected. Gore, January 23, 12.45 p.m. A change for the better is coming oyer Mr. Conyers, who is gradually recovering consciousness. [from oor own correspondent.] Inveroargill, January 23. Mr. Conyers is conscious, and is improving, but is not yet out of danger.