Margaret Cutler, (1874-6/4/1878). "a very dangerous habit"

We have received intelligence of a fatal accident that happened at Waitahuna on Friday. It appears that a girl named Margaret Cutler, daughter of Mr James Cutler, storekeeper, of Waitahuna, was jumping out of a cart when she slipped and fell. The horse started, and the wheel of the cart passed over her neck. Death was almost instantaneous.  -Otago Daily Times, 8/4/1878.

After the foreman of the jury engaged in inquiring into the circumstances attending the death of Margaret Cutler had delivered his verdict, a juror enquired if certain suggestions, which were intended to take the form of a rider, had been added. The foreman replied in the negative, and the Coroner desired an explanation. One of the jurymen then stated that several of those who acted with him desired to direct attention to the dangerous practice of allowing children to drive horses, when they were not old enough to control them; and likewise to a very dangerous habit children have of thronging about carts, and hanging on to them, thereby putting themselves and the driver in danger. The foreman remarked that the suggestions referred to had been discussed, but as they had not been unanimously agreed to, or put to the vote, the Coroner would not allow them to be added to the verdict.  -Tuapeka Times, 10/4/1878.

 From the 'Tuapeka Times' we learn that a little girl named Margaret Cutler, aged eight years, lost her life on the sth inst. at Waitahuna Gully. She was being driven to school, along with her sister and another girl, by a lad named Higgins. On reaching the school, she attempted to get out by the front of the cart while the vehicle was in motion, when her foot slipped and she fell on the road, the wheel passing over her neck. She was conveyed to her parents' residence by Mr Garden, when it was found life was extinct. An inquest was held on Saturday last, before J. Harrop, Esq., J.P., when the jury found the following verdict: — "That the girl Margaret Cutler came to her death by slipping her foot while alighting from a spring cart, and falling so as to allow the wheel of the cart to pass over her neck, and thereby cause death."   -Bruce Herald, 16/10/1878.

Waitahuna Cemetery.