ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 142, 13 July 1909, Page 2

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

A MUSTERER BUSHED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Monday. Hugh Cockrill, aged 22, who was mustering cattle in the Otaki Gorge on Friday in company with another jnun has' been lost. The police and 100 setHers -havo been searching for him without result. The man is delicate. , SMOTHERED IN A DITCH. Wellington, Monday. Samuel Elsmore, a widower, 54 years |of age, of Grovetowu, Blenheim, was I found smothered in a ditch near his | house yesterday.

SEARCHING' FOR A BODY. Monday. Thirty volunteers vainly sought to recover the body of the man who was drowned in the Tukituki river the previous Sunday. They traversed 18 miles' of 'the river from the ford to the sea. There is reason to believe that the victim is Neil Duncan, who has not been heard of since the fatality was reported.

INQUEST. Ashhirton, Monday. At the inquest concerning the death of Alfred Healy, the victim of a gun accident at Staveley, a verdict was returned that deceased accidentally shot himself with a breechloading gua, and that no blame was attachable to anyone.

A LITTLE GIRL'S DEATH. At the Courthouse yes'tcrday morning m inquest was held into circumstances attending the death of a little girl, Louisa Falconer (daughter of Mr. T. A. Falconer, of Uruti), who died in the New Plymouth hospital as the result of burns. Her brother told the story of the accident, which happened on Monday, June 7. Deceased was outside till! house with another little girl about 6.30 p.m. She had lighted a candle, which set her clothes on fire. She ran into the house, screaming, with most of her clothes aiblaze. His father threw liis coat around deceased, caught her up in his arms, and put out the flames, partly with his hands. Witnoss' went into Mr. Ogle's, chemist, at Waitara, and obtained a prescription, with directions for use. Deceased was treated by her mother and father for about three week 6 before anyone else was called in. The distance from witness' home to Waitara .was about fifteen miles. About three weeks' after the accident Dr. Claridge, of Wnitara, was called in. He gave no advice, but said it was impossible for the child to live. She was dying then, 'n his opinion. Dr. Wylie afterwards saw the child. Mr. Halcombe gave evidence as' to having helped to dress the wounds, and to the mother's inability, through illness, to attend to the injuries. Dr. Leatliain described the injury, and stated that the child would have had a better chance of recovery had she been brought to the hospital immediately after the accident. The Coroner returned a verdict that death was the result of the burns, which were caused by accident.