ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 51, 24 October 1912, Page 8

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED. (Per Press Association.) Christchurch, October 23. At Coalgate yesterday the district coroner conducted an inquest touching the death of John Allinson. Joseph Taylor stated that ho and deceased were labourers employed at Mount Algid us Station. On Saturday last 1 deceased and witness left the station on horseback a limit six o’clock in'the morning to come down to Christchurch. At the Wilberforce river they looked for the ford, and came to a place where there were horse tracks. Deceased suggested that they should cross there, but witness demurred, as lie believed it would be too dangerous. Deceased said, ‘We’ll chance it,” ‘ and went into the river. Before ho had gone far both he and his horse had disappeared. Deceased stuck to the | horse for fifty or sixty yards, and was j then washed down the stream. Where | the accident happened the Wilberforce : runs very fast. Witness could do not thing to help deceased, who was wearing a heavy overcoat. W.‘ Logan, station manager, gave evidence as to j the finding of the body in the Rakaia, ■ seven miles from where it went in. i The Wilberforce was a dangerous river, and at the point where deceased tried to cross was particularly so. A verdict was returned that deceased was accidentally drowned. A BARBER AND A RAZOR. 'Wellington, October 23. A labourer named John Leahy and a barber named Arthur Widdes, quarrelled at a bouse in Martin street to- | night. Leahy received several slashes in the face with a razor. He lost a good deal of blood and was taken to the | hospital. Widdes was arrested. On Monday a motor car accident occurred at Paekakariki to Mr and Mrs Grainger, who are residents of Patea, and were motoring through to Wel-

lington. When on the Paekakariki Hill the pin attached to the steering gear broke, with the result that Mr Grainger lost control, and the car ran over a siding from- 30 to 40 feet deep, p’nning both Mr and Mrs Grainger underneath the vehicle. Fortunately, Mr Saville, who passed by immediately after the accident, heard cries for help, and went back to the hotel for assistance. Mr ‘and Mrs Grainger were extricated from their awkward uredicamont, the former escaping will: a severe shaking, but the latter was scarcely so fortunate, being badly bruised about the head and legs. After receiving every attention at the hotel, Mr and Mrs Grainger went on to Wellington.