MAUNGATAWHIRI.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 236, 19 December 1916, Page 3

MAUNGATAWHIRI.

LADY'S TRAGIC DEATH. KILLED ON THE ROAD. As the result of the vehicle which she was driving being capsized on Saturday evening on the road near Mr C. A. Hille's residence at Maungatawhiri, Mrs Elizabeth Foote, a well-known resident of Maramarua and the widow of the late Mr John Foote, met with a tragic death. Mrs Foote, who was 53 years of age, left Maramarua on Saturday afternoon tor the purpose of visiting her mother, Mrs G. McNeish, who lives at Pokeno, and she was returning home at the time of the accident, which took place near the junction of the Mangatangi and Maramarua roads. The circumstances attendant to the fatality were enquired into by the District Coroner, Mr C. Roadley, yesterday, at an inquest held at Mr Hille's residence.

Mr John C. Foote, farmer, of Maramarua, identified the body as that of his mother. He stated that the pony his mother was driving when she met with her death was quiet and reliable, and had been driven by the deceased for two years past. Mr C. Hille spoke to finding the deceased on the road not far from his house and a capsized trap nearby, the pony bavins broken its harness and made off. Life was not quite extinct, but death soon took place. He obtained assistance and the body was removed to his house.

Mr Thos. R. Brown, farmer, of Maungatawhiri, deposed that on Saturday shortly after 6 p.m. he saw the deceased driving near the Maungatawhiri Post Office. She stopped and spoke to him. He noticed that the pony was somewhat excited, having just previously passed a motor car but Mrs Foote remarked that she was quite able to manage it. About a quarter of an hour later Mr Hille came to him and told him of what had occurred, and he accompanied Mr Hille to the scene of the accident. Mrs Foote was then dead. Blood was issuing from her mouth and ears and there was a scar on one side of her bead and a bruise of considerable size on the other side. He assisted to remove the body to Mr Hille's house. He considered there was no doubt but that Mrs Foote was thrown from the trap and wheel marks he traced on the road indicated tbat the pony had shied at some milk cans lying by the side of the road and the trap had struck a bank, causing it to capsize . In returning a verdict of Accidental death in accordance with the evidence of the last-named witness, the Coroner commented on the dangerous practice of milk cans being left on the roadside as an excitable horse coming suddenly on a bright object was likely to take fright at the sight of the same. He asked the police to draw the attention of suppliers to the liaoility of accident arising through the practice.