ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Southland Times, Issue 18847, 12 June 1920, Page 6

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

DEATH OF SIDNEY SMALL. THE INQUEST CONCLUDED. (Special to the Times. I CHRISTCHURCH. June 11. The inquest on Sidney Caleb Small, of Invercargill, who was killed by the overturning of a motor-car on the road between New Brighton and Sumner on May 28, was continued before Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., District Coroner, to-day. Mr C. S. Thomas appeared on behalf of James MeCausland. the owner and driver of the cur at the lime of the accident, and Mr ,1. U. Guuingham watched the proceedings for the widow. Hiram Barnes, tramway inspector, stated that he was on the tram which left New Brighton at 1.33 p.m. When approaching the Sandilands slop he saw a grey car coming from the direction of the city, and travelling at the rale of about -10 to 45 miles per hour. Constable R. C. Brien. stationed at New Brighton,, stated that he saw a grey ear numbered Christchurch 1174 at about 1.45 p.m. on May 28. There wore five men inside, one being a soldier in uniform. The car was travelling at a good rate of speed, and was wobbling somewhat. This was about one mile and a-haif from the scene of the accident.

Will’am John McCaurland, employed on his father's farm at Ashburton, said that he came to Christchurch on May 26. The next day tie purchased a motor-car from the Now Zealand Farmers’ Co.-operative and registered it. in hi.s father's name. He met two friends and arranger! with them and three others, to go for a drive. He had never driven the particular ear before, but he had had over six years’ experience of driving. They left the United Service Hotel, where the part} - were staying, about Lot) p.rn., and went to the Post. Office, driving direct from there to the New Brighton Hotel, where he had two pony shandies in company with the others. He had not previously had any liquor .shire 11 am.. when he had a shandy at the Clarendon Hotel. The car was running well, except that the steering gear was slightly stiff when on the left lock. The speedometer indicated that lie was travelling under thirty miles per hour at the point where witnesses had stated it was -10 nr 45 miles an hour. He was travelling at under twelve miles prr hour for a hundred yards before the accident happened. The road (.hereabouts was. slightly gren=y. When he noticed th" water hole hr attempted to go round it, lint the back wheel got in some loose sand, with the result that the ear skidded right round. He took his foot oil the accelerator and put it on to the brake. The steering gear rrfused to act when he tried to turn the car in the direction of the skid, and the car capsized. Mr Thomas submitted ihaf the speed at which the car was travelling previously had no bearing upon the accident. The evidence of all in the car showed that just prior to that they were travelling about 12 miles per hour. Tire driver, in negotiating what, lie thought was an ordinary corner, had got into the water hole and his wheels skidded, which was likely to happen to anyone. He submitted that, there was no evidence against MeCausland. The Coroner returned a verdict that- death was due to a fractured spine and internal injuries received from the overturning of a motor-car. Shortly before the accident the car was being driven at a high rate of speed, but the evidence on this point was inconclusive, though the fact that the car skidded when going through a waterhole, and the failure to reduce speed in time to prevent skidding would seem to suggest excessive speed and lack of a vigilant outlook. ROYAL ARTILLERYMAN KILLED. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 11. Sydney E. Wright, aged 4S years, a Ser-geant-Major Artificer in the Royal New Zealand Artillery, was knocked down by a motor ’bus at Dcvonport to-night and killed. Deceased was a married man with three children, and had been in the force for 24 years.