ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF MR JOHN HENEY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1130, 24 January 1884, Page 3

ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF MR JOHN HENEY.

It is with feelings of the siucerest regret we learn that Mr John Heney, of Peel Forest, met his death by the overturning of his own coach last Monday evening. It appears that Mr Heney was returning home on the evening in question after having met the south express at the RaugitaU station as was his wont. He left the Tlangitata Budge Hotel about 9 p.m., and reached the top ot the cutting safely. Here there is a place where Mr Heney was in the habit of driving out on the tussocks to avoid the metalled read, and from the position in which he was found it is supposed that in the darkness he drove too far till his coach capsized over an embankment about three feet high. The fact that he did not return home that night alarmed his friends, and his son-in-law, Mr A. Rae, came to look for him rext morning with the result that he found his dead body lying underneath the coach. There was a wound on his temple 6ucb as would be occasioned by falling on a sharp stone, and as there was no sign of a struggle it is supposed that he was rendered unconscious by the fall, and that he died in that state. Mr Heney was a very old settler in Peel Forest, and few were there more universally respected. For many years he has occupied a seat on the Mount Peel Road Board, and was also a very prominent member of the Masonic order. He was the proprietor of the coach •Which he himself drove between Rangitata and Peel Forest, and wo venture to say that nobody ever travelled with him on that line who does not retain a lively recollection of

his civility, good nature, and kindness. A more genial, a better natured or a truer friend it would be difficult to find. He was a native of the North of Ireland, but left it when very young, and was at sea until he came to this colony. He will be missed by a large circle of friends.

An inquest touching his death was held yesterday afternoon at the Rangitata Hotel before J. Beswick, Esq., Coroner, and-a jury of which Mr George Taylor was foreman. Mr Simon Bae, sen., identified the body, and said that the deceased had taken the coach down to the Rangitata railway station as usual on the 21st°inst., but did not return at night. Mr Adam Rae deposed that in consequence of deceased not returning home at his usual hour be went early next morning to Peel Forest Village, but getting no trace of liim there went towards Rangitata Hotel. A short distance down the cutting leading to the Rangitata bridge be found the coach upset, and Mr Heney's body underneath. k He procured assistance and got it out, snd found it quite dead and cold. There no sign of any struggle to extricate himself. I' r Fish deposed that the deceased had received two severe blows osj the forehead in falling. If these had not been sufficient to cause death, the pressure on the body and exposure would have been sufficient to do so. John Hinckley deposed that he was proprietor of the Rangitata Hotel, and saw deceased with the coach start on the main road for Teel Forest about 9 p.m. on the 21st. It was very dark and raining. He next saw bim under the coach the following

morning, and helped to get him out. He had followed the tricks of the coach up the cutting, and f oudd that Mr Heney. in the darkness, bad turned round almost in a line to come back again on to the road, but had hit the top of the cutting, arid the coach had overturned where there was a drop of about 4 feet. The jury without retiring returned a verdict ot accidental death, aod recommended that the Road Board should receive notice to fence the top of the cutting, The funeral will leave the Presbyterian Church, Geraldine, to day, and notices from the W.M.'s of the Winchester Masonic Lodge, 1737, KG. ; Lodge Southern Star, 619, S.C.; and the Aroha Lodge, M.M.M., are requested to attend. Visiting brethren are requested to attend punctually.