ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 17, 20 January 1914, Page 5

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

KILLED IN A MINE.

[PUH PBEBB ASSOCIATION. J Reefton, January 19. A peculiar position has arisen out of the inquest on one Downie, who was killed in the Energetic mine on

Saturday. Downie was the underground boss, and the mine was managed by IV. H. Saunders, a certificated mine manager, but Downie was uncertificated. The evidence showed that Saunders gave' an order to two men to timber the ground on Thursday last, and the men prepared the ground for timbering on Friday, or Saturday, but Downie came and opened up a pass, countermanding the mine manager’s orders, and while thus engaged, a block of stone fell on him causing instant death. The Mines Department had evidence tending to show that Downie, not Saunders, was the actual mine manager. Winter Evans, general manager of the Consolidated Goldfields Company, when asked to give evidence as to the relative salary of Downie and Saunders, refused, and the jury directed the acting-coroner to summons Evans as a witness at the adjourned inquest to-morrow. Evans opposes on he ground that his evidence is irrelevant. DROWN.ED WHILE BATHING. Dunedin, January 19Thomas Rowe, a gasworks employee, about 40 years ,of age, residing* at St. Kilda, was drowned while surf bathing on Sunday afternoon. • Joseph Peruie flung off his outer garments and plunged in, bringing the body ashore, and restorative measures were applied for an hour-and-a-half, but without avail. Deceased leaves a wife and family of six or seven children.

POSTMASTER FOUND DEAD. #

Nelson, January 19

James Robinson, postmaster at Matieri, was found dead last "night as the result of an overdose of strychnine, which he was in the habit of taking for heart trouble. Deceased, who for many years resided in Wellington, was 61 years of age. Ho leaves a widow and a large family. DROWNING OF A LAD. Dargaville, January 20. A lad named Albert Wyatt, aged eight years, whilst playing on the wharf last evening fell over'and was drowned. In falling he struck his head and never rose again. The body has not been recovered. X FOUND DEAD IN BED. Auckland, January 20. Arthur Strother Jackson, 69 years of age, was found dead in bed by his wife. Apparently he was in good health when he retired.