James Green MHR, (1847-19/8/1905). "neither is seriously hurt"

 TRAM AND BUGGY IN COLLISION.

[BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, This Day. 

An electric tram on the main road in the North-East Valley ran into a buggy in which were James Green (a former member of the House of Representatives) and his son. Both occupants were thrown out on to some new-laid metal, but got just clear of the car. Each sustained injuries to his head, but neither is seriously hurt so far as is known at present.  -Evening Post, 3/8/1905.

Deaths

GREEN. — On the 19th August, at the Dunedin Hospital. James Green, Waitati; aged 68 years.  -Evening Star, 19/8/1905.

A Press Association telegram states that Mr. James Green, at one time member for Waikouaiti, and a member of the Otago Education Board, died at Dunedin to-day as the result of injuries sustained over a fortnight ago, when a buggy was run into by an electric car, and Mr. Green and his son were thrown out.  -Evening Post, 19/8/1905.

FUNERAL NOTICE

THE Friends of the late James Green (late of Waitati) are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave the Hospital (Cumberland street entrance), on MONDAY, the 21st inst., at 2.30 p.m., for the Northern Cemetery. 

HUGH GOURLEY, Undertaker, Clarke and Maclaggan streets.  -Evening Star, 19/8/1905.

THE DEATH OF MR JAMES GREEN.

A CORONER'S INQUIRY.

An inquiry was held at the Dunedin Hospital yesterday afternoon into the circumstances connected with the death of Mr James Green, who died at the institution on the 19th inst. Mr C. C. Graham, coroner, conducted the inquest, and Mr J. E. Gunn was selected as foreman of the jury. Mr J. Macgregor was present to watch the proceedings on behalf of the relatives of deceased, and Mr W. C. MacGregor represented the City Corporation, as owners of. the tramways, 

Dr J. D. Marks, house surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital, stated that the deceased, James Green, was brought to the institution a little after midday on the 3rd August. He was then suffering from abrasions on the face and shock. After admission he was put in a separate ward and progressed well until the 7th August, when he became feverish. On August 9 some inflamed areas appeared around the places where the abrasions were, and this was diagnosed as erysipelas. It spread over his head and also to the back of the neck. On August 13 he seemed to be progressing as well as could be expected for a man of his age, and one suffering as he was from Bright's disease. After the 13th he grew gradually worse, and about midday of the 19th August he died, the cause of death being erysipelas, the result of the abrasions previously received, complicated by Bright's disease. He developed hypostatic pneumonia previous to his death. 

To Mr W. C. MacGregor: The injuries he had received did not appear of themselves to be serious; there was nothing to cause any apprehension until the erysipelas appeared. The erysipelas arose from foreign matter which I think got into the abrasions. 

To Sub-inspector Green: From what deceased had told him he gathered that Mr Green suffered from slight concussion previous to his admission to the hospital. 

To Mr W. C. MacGregor: Bright's disease would not necessarily have caused his death. The abrasions were treated with antiseptics at the hospital. The last patient who occupied the ward to which deceased was sent was a typhoid fever patient. He understood that erysipelas was a common occurrence in old hospital buildings. 

Henry Green, brother of deceased, residing at Blueskin, deposed that on the day of the accident he was driving into town from Waitati with deceased, with a horse and trap. The deceased was driving. On the hill coming in, about three miles from Normanby, the horse dropped a shoe, and when they reached Normanby a car was standing there. As the horse had lost a shoe, they chose the best places of the roadway. When they had driven about a quarter of a mile from Normanby the car overtook the buggy and turned it over. Witness heard no gong or warning bell. Both his brother and himself were thrown out on to the roadway, and witness became unconscious, and only came to in Mr Calder's house, to which he was conveyed after the accident. The buggy was just going off the tram line when it was caught — a few more seconds would have taken it clear. The buggy had been running along the tramline and parallel with it most of the way. When they moved off the line witness was aware the car was close up to them. He had looked round twice, and saw the car following them up — the first time the car was about four or five chains away, and he then told deceased the car was coming. He did not know whether his brother looked round or not. Deceased was 68 years of age.

To Mr W. C. Macgregor: Witness did not hear the bell, but would not swear that it did not ring. 

Catherine Doig, wife of John Doig, residing in 58 Forth street, said she was in the North East Valley on the day of the accident and witnessed the occurrence. She saw the electric car, and also saw the buggy on the right-hand side of the tramline. The car was coming along at a slower pace than usual. She noticed that the buggy was slightly ahead of the car, and that it swerved slightly to the left as if to cross the line, and the car struck it just at the forewheel. The horse at this time was just clear of the line. The buggy was upset, Mr Green and his brother were thrown out, and the horse was thrown on its side. The car, after the accident, seemed to stop in about half its length. Witness could not say if the gong sounded. There was a high wind blowing from the north. 

Sydney G. Drake, builder, residing in North East Valley, stated that he was a passenger in the car leaving Normanby at about 11.30 a.m. Just as they got on the Normanby side of King's store, they ran into a buggy. Witness was standing on the back platform looking forward, and before the accident noticed the buggy about 15 or 20 yards ahead of the car, which was catching up upon it very rapidly. The buggy was on the west side of the line, and witness noticed that it turned to the left and came right across the line when it was struck. The car was going at a fairly fast speed, and witness could not say whether the gong was sounded. The deceased was delirious when he was picked up. The car struck the hind wheel of the buggy. 

To Mr MacGregor: When the buggy turned to cross the line it would be about 10 yards away. The buggy was on a portion of the line when witness first noticed it, about 40 yards away. 

Joshua A. Jones, tramway motorman, in charge of the car that left Normanby on 3rd August at 11.37 a.m., stated that when he reached Montagu road he began to check the speed of the car with the hand brake. He noticed a buggy ahead of the car, about 100 yards away on the right hand side — the wrong side — of the road. He rang the bell to warn them the car was approaching. Witness did not think the driver of the buggy would attempt to cross the line. When near the curve witness applied the magnetic brake, and, without the slightest warning, the buggy crossed in front of the car. Witness promptly applied the emergency brake, but it was too late to prevent a collision. The buggy was about two yards off the line all the way, and witness was watching it carefully and was keeping the car well in hand. The gong was kept going all the time while the buggy was ahead. The result of the collision was that the buggy was smashed and the occupants were thrown out. 

To Mr W. C. MacGregor: The buggy was a very light four-wheeled vehicle. The car was pulled up in about its own length. The car was travelling at the rate of eight or 10 miles an hour, and after the hand brake was applied the speed would be about six or seven miles an hour.

To the Foreman: The customary speed of cars from Normanby is about 10 miles an hour. 

John McTague, tramway conductor, stated that he was on duty on the car, and heard the gong sounding so loudly that it attracted his attention. He then saw a vehicle cross in front of the car. He did not notice the vehicle before except when it passed at Normanby. 

The Coroner briefly reviewed the evidence as to facts, and said the jury would have no difficulty in coming to a conclusion as to the cause of death, but the most important thing to determine was whether negligence on the part either of those in charge of the tramcar or the buggy contributed to the accident. From what had been stated, it was probable that deceased, who was driving, did not hear the car approaching, as he was muffled up about the head as it was a cold day, and that he afterwards became excited and attempted to cross over to the right side of the read. So far as he could see there was no negligence on the part of those in charge of the tramcar.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, and added that deceased met his death as the result of an accident, and that there was no blame attachable to anyone.

The funeral, of the late Mr Green took place yesterday afternoon, when a large number of old residents and citizens attended to pay the last mark of respect to the memory of the deceased gentleman, including representatives of the various public bodies with which he had been connected, as well as friends from Waitati, Waikouaiti, and the city and suburbs. Among those present were Messrs Henry and Isaac Green (brothers of the deceased), E. F. Sullivan (son-in-law), T. K. Sidey M.H.R., P. Miller, W. Wills, and J. H. Brown (representing the Hospital Trustees). Dr Gordon Mccdonald (chairman hon. medical hospital staff). B. Maris Clark (chairman of Benevolent Trustees), and A. Clulee (secretary), S. M. Park (acting secretary Otago Education Board), J. Ryan, A. Riach (ex-inspector of Works for the board), D. B. White (rector of the Training College and Normal School). C. Macandrew (secretary High Schools Board and Otago School Commissioners), Revs. I. K. McIntyre, D. S. Mason, and A. H. Finlayson, Messrs A. W. Morm, A. Grant (railway traffic manager), A. Kilpatrick (chairman Waikouaiti County Council). E. T. Wheeler, John Reid, B. M. Marks, L. G. Fenwick, C. Branson. C. B. Smith, J. Torrance. John Foote (Waikouaiti County Council), W. Earnshaw, J. Campbell (ex-Mayor of North-East Valley), J. Thomson, G. M. Burlinson, W. Campbell, A. Hogg, W. Wright, J, Longforth. T. McConnell, W. B. Anderson, D. Nicol, J. James, J. Kay, Dr Burns, and others. Archdeacon Robinson officiated at the grave.  -Otago Daily Times, 22/8/1905.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

THE LATE MR JAMES GREEN. 

On the motion of Mr Seddon, seconded by Mr Massey, a resolution was placed on record regretting the death of Mr James Green, ex-M.H.R„ and expressing sympathy and condolence with his family.  -Otago Daily Times, 23/8/1905.

WEDNESDAY, 6th SEPTEMBER, 1905, At 1 o'clock.

At the Residence of the late Mr James Green, Waitati. 

Under instructions from F. H. Morice, Esq., District Agent of the Public Trustees, as Executor in the Estate of the late James Green (deceased). 

E. L. MACASSEY & CO. will offer for sale by auction, as above: 

The Whole of the HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE and EFFECTS of the late Mr Green, 

Comprising — Drawing room, dining room, hall, study, bedroom, and kitchen furniture, and sundries, grand piano (Collard and Collard), oil paintings, handsome sideboard, tables, chairs, sofas, bookcase and books (100 volumes), safe (fireproof), pictures, carpet squares, maps, mirrors, horsehair suite, lamps, mats, rugs, fenders and brasses, fire screens, ornaments, brackets, lamps, decanters, tumblers, clocks, double and single iron bedsteads and bedding, chests of drawers, wash-stands and sets of wares, barometer, writing desks, piano stool, vases, Gladstone bag, commode, curtains and poles, cushions, knives, forks, spoons, birdcages, writing case, Aurora lamp, stable lamp, carpenters' tools, riding crop, pot plants, cabinet, hot-air bath, crockery and cooking utensils, quantity wearing apparel, and large quantity of sundries. 

FOR ABSOLUTE SALE.   -Otago Daily Times, 26/10/1905.

BLUESKIN A. AND P. SOCIETY.  (excerpt)

The annual meeting of members of tie Blueskin Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held at Waitati on Friday, 22nd, and notwithstanding the inclement state of the weather, was well attended, 16 members being present. Mr W. J. Bolt, one of the vice-presidents of the society, occupied the chair. Before entering on the business of the meeting the Chairman feelingly referred to the great loss the society had sustained in the death of its late esteemed president, Mr James Green, who had filled that position almost continuously from the earliest days of the society, and had in the course of his long connection with the society never ceased to further its interests in any way that lay in his power. He would move that an expression of sympathy from the members of the society be conveyed to the immediate relatives of the deceased in their sad bereavement. This was unanimously endorsed by the members present.  -Otago Witness, 4/10/1905.

James Green's remains are in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery. A photo of his grave will be forthcoming.