TWO FARMERS POISONED.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 228, 15 March 1928, Page 1

TWO FARMERS POISONED.

WILD HONEY EATEN. Both Seriously 111. Poisoned through eating wild honey, two Morrinsville men, Messrs. Kelly senior and N. Hastings, of Hangawera road, have been lying seriously ill since Sunday. For a time the condition of Mr. Hastings was so grave that his life was despaired of and it was only by careful medical attention throughout the night that he was saved. The honey was found on a farm at Kiwitahi owned by Mr. Hastings when a party comprising Mr. and Mrs. Hastings, Mr. and Mrs. W. Hetherington (Morrinsville) and Mr. Kelly senior were visiting the property on Sunday. There was a large swarm of bees in a shed which Mr. Hastings wished to clear to house manure. The bees were smoked out and a large quantity of honey was discovered. Unaware that it was poisoned, several members of the party partook of the honey in large or small quantities. Mr. Hetherington ate a small quantity but showed no ill effects. Apparently Mr. Hastings ate more than the others as on Sunday night he took suddenly ill and grew so bad that medical assistance was summoned. Throughout most of the night Mr. Hastings was unconscious and the doctor sat up with him most of the time. • On Monday the patient’s condition was worse and at one time his life was despaired of. However, toward the evening his condition improved, and this morning he was stated to be making satisfactory progress. Mr. Kelly’s case was not so serious. and though very ill on Sunday night he is now completely recovered. cost of ordinary improvement, involving the council in say twice the cost. The idea in metalling from the railway station outwards was to obviate the use of chains on metal, which could not be done by patching and leaving mud roading between stretches of metal. The chairman pointed out that Mr. Jones seemed to think the resolution of the meeting was for metalling from the line, whereas the engineer’s version was metalling from the station. Treating All Alike. Cr. Rollett stoutly affirmed that he treated all areas alike, giving every road a share as far as finances permitted. Such had always been his policy. Finally, Cr. Rollett assured the deputation that he would do his best to have the road attended to. The chairman: After March 31. Cr. Rollett added that the road metalling near Mr. C. G. Payze’s had been authorised two years ago, but funds did not permit putting the job in hand. It was generally agreed that the main damage to the road was done by the cream lorries, and that no sanded road could stand traffic in wet weather.