ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 20, 6 January 1912, Page 5

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, January 5. Beatrice Alice Forbes, aged three years, died in a private hospital today, as the result of a bullet wound received by the accidental discharge of an air gun. Deceased was having dinner with her parents at Opotiki on December 19, and her little brother was playing with the gun, not knowing die weapon was loaded. The bullet lodged in her forehead. Rotorua, January 5. Two young lady visitors from Auckland (Misses Gordon and Silva) had an exciting experience here this even- ; ng with serious results to one of diem. It appears that both of them were riding one horse at a fast gallop, when, pulling up, it swerved nn'xpectedly, throwing both of the young ladies off. Miss Silva fell on her face, and sustained a slight concussion, besides being badly bruised. Miss Gordon escaped with a "shaking. Timaru, January 5. An inquest was held to-day into the death of Mrs. Birchlield, wife of the icensee of the Saltwater Creek Hotel, who died yesterday while an anaesthetic was being administered. Tne oost mortem revealed weakness of *the heart.

Dunedin, January 5. An inquest on the body of James Mehalski, who died on Christmas Day as the result of a tree falling on him on December 6, was held to-day. The evidence showed that deceased and a mate named Qiter were sitting in the latter’s tent in the afternoon. A very strong wind prevailed, and deceased went into his mate’s hut, thinking it would be safer than his own. The tree was uprooted by the wind and fell on the tent, Qiter being dazed, and deceased, who was pinned under the tree, being unconscious. The medical evidence was that deceased’s spinal column was probably fractured. The cause of death was exhaustion, following on the injuries. The Coroner recorded a verdict of death from a fractured spine caused by being accidentally crushed by a tree. Gore, January 5. James Crombie, aged about 22, the son of a well-known farmer at Otama, was found on the roadside near his parents’ residence on Wednesday, with a bullet wound in his head. lie •vas conveyed to the Gore Hospital, uid died last night without rega’ning consciousness. An inquest is to be held this evening. A rusty pea-rifle wherewith Crombie shot rabbits was found near him. Wo understand, says the Eltham “Argus,” that anxious enquiries are being made in this town concerning the whereabouts of a gentleman recently resident here, and who was interested in-the life insurance business. One of the enquirers is so eager for an interview with the gentleman that ho has issued an invitation, printed on blue paper, requesting the pleasure of his company in Eltham. Tauranga, January 6. An old Maori couple named Tehir ri Tawaha and Pare Kakahaka were burned to death in their where at Matakawa Island on Tuesday night. There is no clue to the origin of the fire.