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Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 426, 17 May 1879, Page 2

Remember Mr Thomson’s sale at Normanby, to-day. Mr W. Dale will hold a miscellaneous sale at his mart to-day. We understand that Mr D. Ballam has purchased from Mr P. JR. Jackson, of Wanganui, the first-class draught entire horse, Prince Arthur. Gladiator and Prince Arthur are now owned by Mr Ballam, and they will both travel in the Waverley district nest season. On Wednesday last Mr J. Guy met with a serious accident at the Kakaramea Saw Mills, Ho was attending to one of the circular saws while in motion, when the little finger of his right hand was taken off, and the next finger severely injured. Mr Guy came to town to get the stump amputated, which was successfully done by Drs Keating and Percy, and the other finger stitched up. We are happy to say that the sufferer is now doing well-

What a pity it is that some people are so thin-skinned. If anything is published in a newspaper that in any way affects an individual, the first tiling he does is “ Stop my paper,” It is never considered that an editor is in no way bound up in the opinions expressed by correspondents* or that if a mis-statement is made regarding one settler, he is at perfect liberty to contradict the same, providing it is done in calm language. No, “ Stop my paper” is the only remedy. Well, all wo can say, is, i£ people are so narrow-minded, they are far better without a paper, for it is a difficult thing to please everyone.

The adjourned meeting of the Patea Cricket Club will be held at the Albion Hotel, this evening.

]\Xr D, Ooiltts liaa l\aon, naminnfT\v oatijiu auiiaol Committee as a candidate for the Wanganui Education Board, in the place of Mr Peat.

The Taranaki Herald says :—An important meeting of the Harbour Board was held on Saturday last. Sir John Goode’s report was received, and Major Atkinson despatched to Auckland to arrange about ro-issue of debentures. The matter of Mr Irvino, Engineer,'culnnnofor] j n the Board discontinuing his services for incompetency.

In our fourth page will be found the wharf regulations of the Patea Harbor Board, and as the wharves will shortly be submitted to public competition, we would advise intending buyers to . become acquainted with them.

Attention is called to an advertisement in another column, which states that Mr J. Peake, archietect, has opened an office in Waverle3% where 3*e may be consulted, on Wednesdays and Thursdays in every alternate week.

The Taranaki Herald of Saturday last, says—“"Various rumours have been current during tho week, about the well-known and loyal chief Honi Pihama, of Opunake. His reported secession from Government was received with general expressions of regret. Refer ence to *bur Hawera correspondent’s letter will show the feeling which prevails there. Honi Pihama is now in New Plymouth, and, having been made acquainted with what has been published respecting him, has expressed himself as follows, in a telegram to Mr Thomas Middlemas, of Hawera —‘ Who is it that sends evil reports about me from Hawera to the Taranaki Herald. lam much grieved. Reply at once.’ On being interviewed by us as to his reported secession, Honi stated that his feelings toward Government had in no way altered, and that they now have and will continue to have Iris support. As to the giving corn to Te Whiti, it has always been done by him, whenever large meetings have been held—that is he has sent food: All native chiefs residing near to any place of meeting, whether usual, as in the case of Te Whiti’s monthly meetings, or unusual, as for instance tho present large meetings in the King country—are expected to contribute food or money. He is only now doing what he has been doing for years past. Some of Honi Pihama’s people believe in Te Whiti, whilst others are averse to his, teachings. So far as he can judge, there: is no alteration in the feeling of his people. Some have been in the habit of attending Te Whiti’s monthly meetings and continue to do so, and for this, if for no other reason, he is expected to help. This, coming from Honi Pihama himself, who is so well known as being truthful and straight forward in all his dealings, should be sufficient to alia}’ doubts which have arisen through late rumors.”

The Hon Mr Fox will no doubt agree with the following, which we take from the Southland News :—“ ‘ Urgent private affairs ’ was pleaded by a • member of a local Board on Wednesday morning as a ‘reason for bringing its business to an end. As the meeting was dependent on him for a quorum, some members demurred to ‘public duties been over-ridden in that way, but when the .gentleman-referred to explained that * he had to give a bride away,’ all tacitly agreed that there are occasions in which even public considerations must be waived. This reminds us of the old Scotch proverb that ‘ when a wedding’s in the case, all things else must give

place. ’ ”

FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE BREAKWATER. ABOUT five o’clock on Wednesday evening last, a most melancholy accident, resulting in death, occurred at the Patea Breakwater Works—the victim being Mr Richard Dickson, th£ contractor. From the evidence taken atMhe inquest, it would appear that the deceased gentleman was assisting in lifting concrete blocks out of the sand by means of a crane and truck, the former being used to fift..the blocks so as to place thorn in the latter, when they were conveyed to end of breakwater and again lifted out of the truck by the crane,, and placed in position. Everything being ready, both crane and truck were started along the lino at a good speed. It was usual for some of the men to keep in front of the crane, so as to prevent it tuning too fast, and on this occasion Air Dickson and another placed themselves each side, whilst another man occupied the position between the rails. When the crane was nearing its destination, where there are a quantity of loose boulders, Mr Dickson in passing over these missed Ins footing, and fell across the line. He managed to get his body and one of his legs out of the way, but before he could get the other over, the crane was on him, and completely shattered the limb at the thigh, just leaving it hanging by a piece of skin. The sight'was a fearful one, and the workmen were thoroughly unnerved for a time; but they soon recovered themselves, and administered to the wounded man, A large belt was made fast round the stump, to stop the bleeding, and a horseman was despatched in haste for a doctor. Unfortunately the tide was in, and the longest way had to be taken, and the man in endeavouring to make as much haste as possible, knocked his horse up, having to walk a great portion of the way. However,DrsPercy and Keatingwere found at last, just in the act of amputating Mr Guy’s finger, which they left, and hurried down to the breakwater, when in a very short time the leg was removed and the main artery secured. But there seems to have been no hope from the first, as Dr Keating stated at the inquest that even if there had been a doctor on the ground at the time of the accident, Mr Dickson’s life could not have been saved. Mr Dickson expired shortly after the limb was removed. He was conscious up to the time of the doctors’ arrival, but was in great agony, and implored that chloroform be administered, which was done. So passed away a valuable man one well respected by everyone in the district, and his loss will be severely felt, Mr-*Dickson commenced a work that he was never permitted to see finished ; nevertheless, what has been done towards the breakwater will always remain as a memento of the deceased gentleman. Great sympathy is felt for Mrs Dickson in her berevement.

AN INQUEST was held on Thursday morning, at the Masonic Hotel, to which place the body had been removed, before Charles Allan Wray, Esq., Coroner, and the following jury : —William Slrclley (foreman), Felix McCarthy, UenryGnyattjJamcsGondfellow, H, I. Davis, James Smith, G. W. Taylor, Charles Bayliss, John Pope, Samuel Black, Daniel Bourke, and Thomas Hogan. The first witness called was Robert Young Langford, whobeingsworn, said—l am a laborer employed at the Patca R rent water, on the late Mr Dickson’s contnct. Yesterday afternoon (14th May), at about 5 o’clock, I was assisting to remove concrete blocks from near the cement shed into a truck on a lino of rails communicating with the end of the breakwater. The deceased, Frederick Walker, and myself, with anotlr r man, ass’sted in moving the crane which was used to lift the blocks out of the sand where they lay. We had placed a concrete block weighing from 4 to 5 tons in the truck, by means of the crane., nnd pushed the truck along t.ho line towards the d. water. After the truck was started, the gradient of the line was so steep that we had to hold the truck back as much as we were able, to prevent its passing the place where we wished to lay the blocks prior to their being deposited in their permanent positions in the line of breakwater. Frederick Walker was in

front of the crane, on the left side going towards the breakwater. I came next, deceased came behind trie, and the other man on the right hand side. When about half Way from flie shed, it was the custom to stand on one side and let the crane pass. We would then step in between the truck and the crane, and keep the crane moving.. On this occassion I was first to leave the crane, stepping on one side. The first thing I saw on looking ahead, of me was the deceased laying under the first wheel on the left hand side. The crane was then

in motion, and was going at a great speed. I attributed the accident to the deceased’s slipping or missing hisfooting on a boulder, of which there were several alongside the line, causing him to be thrown under the crane. I attempted to stop the crane with my hands after observing the deceased’s position, but it was no use. The other two men succeeded in stopping the truck before it reached the place where the deceased was lying on his side across the rail, his

head towards the right rail. The deceased was able to raise himself partially up as soon as the crane bad passed over him. He then gave me his band and said, “ Lift me up, lad ; lift me up.” The men then lifted him up, and we laid hyn on a hand-barrow and carried him up to bis office. Before starting, Frederick Walker took off his waist belt and bound it round the leg cf the deceased above the wound, to stop the bleeding. As soon as we reached the office, deceased begged us to turn him over and let him lay on his side, which we did. He spoke several times. As soon as the accident occurred, May, one of the men working, was sentfoi the doctor to Carlyle, In about an hour and a quarter after the accident the doctor arrived. The crane was going at the rate of four to six miles -an hour when the accident occurred. There was no break used on the crane to check it. An iron bar was used to stop it when the truck bad gone far enough. The deceased was on remarkably good terms with all his men. I did not hear the deceased allude to the accident at all before his death.

William Hawkey, sworn, said—l am a ;laborer at the Patea Breakwater, and have ibeen there about ten weeks working on • Mr Dickson’s contract. Yesterday afternoon at about five o’clock, I was engaged with others in shifting concrete blocks by. means of the crane and } truck T from where ilhe3 r were laying in the sand to a place where they were to be deposited before being placed in their-permanent position. I was standing on the right hand side of the crane, steadying and checking it after it bad started. As we were going along at a good speed, I observed the deceased fall between two rails in front of the crane. The crane passed over his left thigh, and directly afterwards stopped ; ,r and I saw Robert Langford helping deceased up.

We were in the habit of stopping the crane with, our hands, using a crow-bar as the speed slackened. I consider the manner adopted of working the crane and truck as dangeroiis, and likely to lead to accidents. It had been a- topic of conversation amongst tlie men, but no complaint had been made to Mr Dickson that I am aware of. I helped to take deceased to the office, and heard him ask to have the belt round his thigh loosened. Medical assistance arrived about an hour and a quarter after the accident occurred. The distance is between four and five miles to Carlyle. William Forbes Keating, sworn, said— I am a duly qualified medical practitioner residing at Carlyle. Shortly before six o'clock last evening, Dr Percy and myself were summoned to see the deceased. Within half an hour we were at the breakwater. Deceased was still living. We proceeded immediately to remove the leg, which had been shattered and mangled by his injury, and we accomplished this with a very trifling loss of blood, and in a very short time. The little gush of blood that inevitably follows the division of the femoral artery was? followed by the deceased fainting, and though resperations did not cease at once, he never again rallied. In my opinion death resulted from hemorrhage or loss of blood, together with the shock to the nervous system, caused by such a severe injury. I have no doubt that deceased would have died Idngbef ore Dr Percy and myself arrived, but Hoi' bandages having been applied to check the hemorrhage. The wound was fully accounted for by the statements made, that deceased had been nm over by a railway truck. I do not think the life could have been saved bad medical assistance been on the spot when the accident occurred.

Sergeant Whelan deposed—l went to the breakwater this morning at seven o’clock, and on arrival visited the remains. On searching the deceased’ person, in the presence of Mr J. Thomson and the foreman of works (Daniel Murphy), I found two Bank of New Zealand notes, part of a check-book, thirteen letters, a silver watch and guard, which I handed over to Mr Thomson. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned, but a rider was added to the effect that a break should have been used on the crane. THE FUNERAL took place yesterday afternoon, and the remains of the deceased gentleman were followed to their last earthly resting place by a large number of townspeople, together with all the hands employed at the breakwater, who acted as beai-ers. The Rev A. Dasent conducted thefunecal service, and very few of those present but felt the truth of these words, “In the midst of life, wo aro in death,” &c. Mr Dickson was fifty-one years of ago.