Accident in the Bush.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3009, 7 October 1878, Page 2

Accident in the Bush.

Dr Payne and, Constable Gordon returned on Saturday night from Whan^amata, where they had been to render assistance to a man named William McjDonald who was injured on the 29th instant while felling a tree. The doctor and constable left on last Wednesday, shortly after the accident had been reported in iown—it wastbea stated that the injared m*n was in a dying state, unattended, or but imperfectly looked after, and with insufficient necessaries—and arrived at the place where McDonald .was lying on Thursday evening. The oaly account of the accident which could be obtained was from a*bu?hmin named Alfred Jacobson, who appears to hare been the only companion of the injured man at the time of the occurrence, and he. states that about 3 o'clock oh: Sunday afternoon McDonald called on h;in jind said he was going to fell a tree, which was hanging* over his whare. He went up to him and got a rope, which ho tied round one of the branches and down to a stump, to guide it off the whare as it fell. He stood about 10 yards off while McDonald felled the tree. He noticed a dry limb of a tawa amongst the- branches of the tree they were felling, but did not think it would break as the other tree fell.; As the tree fell his attention- was centred on it, and he did not notice McDonald at the time, but heard the crash of the tawa branch, and on looking round saw him lying apparently dead, having been hit on the. head by the tawa branch. He did not known what to do, and only waited a few minutes, and then ran towards the beach to tell the people of the accident,, leaving him where he fell. The beach was about five miles away. He told Mr Withers, and then went back, but was passed by. him on the way, Mr Withers being on horseback, and .when he got to the whare Mr Withers had carried him. inside, and was dressing, the wound. Doctor Payne reports that from the time which had elapsed since the aocident, ordinary remedies were of no use. The man was suffering from concussion of the. brain, and from a very large scalp wound, with profuse suppuration and danger of suppurative fever. He carefully washed and dressed . the man's wound, and bandaged his head, and advised his removal to* the nearest, place where medical attendance could be had constantly. Acting oh this suggestion Constable Gordon got men to carry McDonald down to 'the beach, and there he also procured a, boat and crew to take the injured man to Tauranga, the nearest place where he could have the attention required. The district in whichthe accident occurred is called Waimam'a, and is distent about seven miles from Whangamata.

[A telegram was received ta-day stating that [McDonald arrired at Tauranga on Saturday, and was sent" on to Auckland per Taupo the same day.]

First irate femrle : "I'd hate to be in your-shoes." Second ditto: "Yod couldn't get in 1 them."