THE ACCIDENT TO MR CONYERS.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 116, 25 January 1879, Page 2

THE ACCIDENT TO MR CONYERS.

The opening of tho line through to Invercargi'l appears a matter of but secondary importance in comparison with the sad accident met with by Mr Conyers The 'own correspondent' of the 'Press' gives the following account of the accident : —" Everything had gone as merri!}as a marriage bell, the weather being delightful, and tlie company in high glee, till the curve on entering East Mataura was reached, when the sharp, shrill shrieks of the engines denoted that something had gone wrong. The cry of ' a man oft'the train' was passed along, and all on hoard were horrified to learn that the victim of the accident was Commissioner Conyers. The train was stopped with all promptness. <md hundreds went along the line to where the unfortunate gentleman lay, about fifty yards from a water tank, on a pile of sleepers. It appears that he had been riding on the front engine, and a few minutes before was conversing with the driver, who suddenly turning round missed him, an J gave the alarm. The explanation of the accident is supplied by a. woman, the occupant of a cottage near tlie water tank in question. She stales that she was watching the approaching train, and saw tho person leaning forward from the engine come in contact with the side of the sleeper which support* the tank, and fair off very shortly afterwards. He must have been either endeavouring to speak to some one on the first carriage, or was looking back at the sharp curve the train had just passed over, when he was struck. Fortunately, there was plenty of medical assistance at hand, and the services of Professor Macgregor, Drs. Murphy, of Dunedin, and J. Gibson Smith, of the Clutha were requisitioned. By their orders Mr Conyers was, as soon as could be, placed in the nearest van, and (he train moved slowly into Gore, where, on arrival, the wound, which is a very severe one on the right temple, and from which blood flowed freely, was j sewn by Dr Murphy, assisted by Dr ; Smith. Mr Cnyers remaining uncon- j scions, the medical gentlemen advised his j removal from the train, which was doue, | ho being conveyed to the nearest hotel, [

Dr Smith volunteering to remain by him. It is needless to stale that the accident cast a grent gloom over the whole of the party. Scarcely halt an hour before Mr John Olivier had made a tour of tue train, and collected a goodly sura, for the donations came freely, for the purpose of purchasing some articles of jewellery for Messrs Conyers arid Grant, as souvenirs of the trip, and the articles were to be presented at the banquet. The ' Otago Daily Times ' of yesterday says :—A gentleman who came by the train from Gore last evening states lhat he was informed that Mr Conyers bad recognised his wife; but it does ,jiot appear from the telegrams which came direct from those who are in attendance upon the patient, that he has completely recovered consciousness, A special telecram which was despatched from Gore at 10 p,m. on the 23rd is as follows :—" Be Conyers—No decided change has yet taken place. He still lies in a semiconscious state, but doctor reports him as progressing satisfactorily."