Alfred Finch, (1860-2/1/1912). "his dear familiar face"

 FATAL ACCIDENT

IN A WOOL STORE. 

 ALFRED FINCH KILLED. 

Alfred Finch, an old and greatly respected resident of Timaru, once a Borough Councillor, and who has interested himself in different movements and associations for the public good, met an untimely and painful death whilst employed at his daily task yesterday. Finch, for many years head storeman for the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., was assisting in pushing a truck loaded with bales of wool from the store on to the outside railway line when a bale, weighing seven hundredweight, caught on the archway and toppled over, falling on the unfortunate man and rendering him insensible. 

The accident occurred at 4.40 p.m., just after the departure of the northgoing express. Finch and a man named John Dawson was shunting the loaded truck out in the usual way, and it seems that the waggon was carrying too high a load. The front portion was got through the doorway, but a bale at the rear of the truck caught on the archway and came down. Finch was on the loft-hand side and Dawson on the right. The bale hit Finch, still in a stooping position, on the back of the head, his head apparently striking the truck, and he fell on his face, the heavy package on top of him. No time was lust in extricating him, and Ambulance Superintendent Foster and several members of the brigade were soon at hand, while medical aid was summoned. All possible was done to save the man's life, artificial respiration being practised until the last, and injections were made to assist the restoration of the heart's action. Perseveringly the ambulance men and two doctors worked, until 6.50 p.m., over two hours, but Finch had passed away. The deceased was injured internally, and it is believed that the severest injury was to his head, while his right leg was also broken. A postmortem examination of the body was made last evening, and an inquest will be held at the Courthouse to-day. 

Deceased, who resided in William street, is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. The body is at his late residence.  -Timaru Herald, 3/1/1912.

FUNERAL NOTICE. 

FRIENDS are respectfully informed that the funeral of the late Alfred Finch will leave his late residence, William Street, for the Timaru Cemetery on THURSDAY, the 4th inst., at 2.30 p.m. 

J. RADCLIFFE, Undertaker.  -Timaru Herald, 4/12/1912.

DEATH BY ACCIDENT.

IN A WOOL-STORE.
INQUEST ON ALFRED FINCH. 

An inquest was held yesterday morning into the circumstances surrounding the death of Alfred Finch, who was killed on Tuesday evening through a bale of wool falling on him in the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's wool-store. The Coroner (Mr Y. G. Day) presided, and Sergeant Bowman conducted the enquiry. Mr A. Barkas represented the Loan Company. 

Dr. Unwin said that on arrival at the scene of the fatality, he found Finch's pulse beating fairly well, and that he was breathing in gulps at intervals. "Witness sent for restoratives, and had artificial respiration practised. Deceased was suffering from a jagged wound to the tongue and upper jaw, which was partly broken. Convulsive gasps were now more frequent, and despite the injection of restoratives, the pulse got weaker, and the breathing less frequent. Dr. Talbot was now called in, and he and decided that it would be useless to proceed further, so weak was the action of the heart. Artificial respiration was kept up for two hours and a half, and at the cessation of this, the heart's action stopped. Witness made a postmortem examination of the body, and found that the right leg was fractured in two places just below the knee. There were no other injuries to the head, other than those named. The spinal cord was broken opposite the third vertebra, this causing paralysis to the respiratory muscles. Death was due to shock and fracture of the spinal cord. 

John Dawson, labourer, said he was alongside deceased, shunting a truck out of the store on Tuesday. The truck was loaded with bales of dumped wool. It was nearly through the archway, and witness, on the left side of the truck, was stooping to grasp the catch at the turntable when something grazed his right leg and he heard a thud. Turning round he saw deceased with a bale on top of him, across his legs. The bale was removed, and the police, ambulance and medical man were called in. The truck contained twenty "dumps," as usual, and the top bale must have grazed the arch. Such loads always ran very close to the arch. The bales were not secured in any way. Witness was only employed two or three days in the store, and deceased had warned him always to watch the top bales when going through the archway.

Alfred James Christmas, labourer who was "braking" the truck, said he felt no obstruction such as would be caused by a bale catching on the archway. Witness had worked in the store for the past two wool seasons and had never a bale catch on the archway, although Finch had warned him always to be on the look-out for such an occurrence. 

Oliver Alfred Finch, son of the deceased, gave evidence of identification stating that his late father, 51 years of age, was employed by the Loan Company for five years.

The Coroner brought in a verdict that deceased died from compression of the spinal cord and shock, accidentally cause by a bale pf wool. From the evidence there was no blame attachable to any person at all.  -Timaru Herald, 4/1/1912.

Timaru Cemetery.

7/37 Trooper Edwin Frank Daniel, (20/3/1891-22/8/1915). "trying to save a wounded comrade"

On the 21st the Regiment was warned of an attack to be made on Hill 60, known as Kaiajik Aghala, a small round hill of considerable tactical importance that lay at the eastern edge of the plain and overlooked the junction of the lines of the Anzac and Suvla Bay forces and also several important wells. The attack was to be made in conjunction with a general advance by the Suvla Bay force on Scimitar Hill and the "W" Hills, by which it was intended to straighten up the line held by the combined forces. The attack was to commence at 3.30 p.m. the same afternoon. General Russell was in command, and was given for the operation the Canterbury and Otago Regiments of his own brigade, amounting to about four hundred men, a detachment of five hundred from the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade and the Connaught Rangers seven hundred strong. Ghurkas, in conjunction with the attack, were to seize the wells on the plain at the foot of the hill. Between the Regiment and its objective lay the ravine of the Kaiajik Aghala. About eight hundred yards had to be covered before

The Beach at No. 2 Outpost looking towards Anzac Cove, after the August fighting.

the enemy's trenches were reached. The direction of the Regiment's attack was straight at the hill, with the Otagos, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Grigor, on the right, and beyond them further on the right were the Australians, and immediately on the Regiment's left the Connaughts.

An artillery bombardment had been promised, but at the last moment it was decided that the Anzac guns should assist the Suvla Bay attack. Punctually on time, 3.30 p.m., the men jumped from the trenches and raced down the hill. Casualties were numerous till comparative shelter was reached in the bottom of the dere. Then came the climb up the other side, a moment to gather breath, and the rush for the enemy trench 200 yards to the front. It was simply a ease of get there, and during the last part of this rush most of the casualities occurred. Major Hutton was wounded, and Major Hurst of the 1st Squadron took command. The Turks in the trench were killed, and a machine gun was captured and immediately turned upon the Turks by the two Harper brothers of the Machine Gun Section. Though the Australians managed to cross the ravine, they could not reach the enemy trenches; and on our left, despite the fact that the New Army troops had seized the Kabak well with a splendid charge and captured the long trench on the eastern side of the hill in their first rush, they failed to hold the ground they had won. The Canterbury Regiment with the Otagos were now holding about 120 yards of enemy trench with both flanks in the air, and with no means of communication across the exposed valley. Both regiments had lost over 60 per cent. of their number in the space of a quarter of an hour. With the depleted numbers it was impossible to go any further, and orders were received from General Russell that the trenches gained were to be consolidated and held. At dusk the enemy fire slackened, and the Regiment was able to get into touch with the Indian Brigade who were holding the captured wells on the flat.

About midnight occurred a peculiar incident. About 200 Turks, fully armed, with fixed bayonets, and carrying bombs slung on their belts, came up to the New Zealand line as though to surrender. Eleven came into the trench and were promptly disarmed. The remainder stood in the open, apparently undecided what to do. Signs were made to them to lay down their arms. Colonel Grigor of the Otagos got out of the trench and endeavoured to find out what they wanted, but a big Turk seizing him by the hand, he jumped back into the trench. Several shots were fired on the flank by those who could not see what was happening, the Turks taking alarm retreated, and fire was immediately opened upon them by the mounted rifles. It was after this peculiar affair that an incident, so far unrecorded, happened. The fire from our machine guns ignited the clothing of a dead Turk. From here it spread to the scrub and threatened to do what the enemy had failed in—drive us from the trench. Trooper A. Barr of the Machine Gun Section, seized a shovel, jumped out into the open and calmly proceeded to beat out the blaze. Every Turkish rifle in the vicinity opened on him standing there in the light of the fire. Barr coolly worked on, extinguished the flames, and then jumped back into the trench.

The Regiment held on to this position until the evening of the 23rd, when with the Otago Regiment it was relieved by the Auckland and Wellington M.R., and went back to a quieter valley to gather strength for another attack.  -Official History of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles.

Our Kingsdown correspondent writes: — The news of the death of Frank Daniel, in action at the Dardanelles, was received at Kingsdown with much regret, and much sympathy was expressed for Mr and Mrs Daniel. Frank Daniel look a keen interest in Territorial work, and, on the outbreak of the war volunteered for the Front at once, and was accepted. He will be much missed in the district.  -Timaru Herald, 17/5/1915.

KINGSDOWN SCHOOL.

PICNIC AND PRIZE DAY.  (excerpt)

The other young men who enlisted from Kingsdown, but were educated in other schools were: Frank Daniel (killed at the Dardanelles while trying to save a wounded comrade), William Grey (severely wounded after landing, April 25), Albert Fridd, Peter Fridd, William Ballagh, Martin Carter, Albert Staff. It was remarkable, continued Mr Craigie, that New Zealand had already sent more men to this Great War than Great Britain sent to Europe to fight the Battle of Waterloo.  -Timaru Herald, 30/12/1915.

Timaru Cemetery.

"Charlie" Ng Hong Ark, (1904-22/12/1936). "struck with the steering wheel"

“RED-HANDED”

THEFT FROM CHINESE GARDENS

SUSTENANCE MEN FINED

How three sustenance men were caught red-handed stealing vegetables from the Chinese market gardens in the rifle range road, Jack's Point, on October 12, was related in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when Walter Wright, David Craig and Walter Stanley Parker were charged with the theft of vegetables valued at £2, the property of Hong Ark. 

Senior-Sergeant D. J. Hewitt, who prosecuted, said there had been numerous complaints regarding thefts from the Chinese gardens and the police had kept watch. Hearing that three men were in the gardens one night, Constables Watt and Lloyd had gone down and found the three defendants preparing to decamp with cauliflowers, turnips and onions in a bag. Thieving of the sort was very prevalent, but it was not suggested that defendants were responsible for all of it —they said it was the first time they had been there. “They had heard that it was quite easy to get vegetables there, but they have now found out that it was also quite easy to get caught there,” remarked the Senior Sergeant. 

Chinese "Fair Game” Mr McRae, who appeared for Wright, said that defendants had adopted the attitude, although they were not right in doing so, that the Chinese were "fair game” and they did not attach as much seriousness to the offence as if the gardens had belonged to their own people. They were married men and on sustenance, and had been told that it was easy to get vegetables there. On Wright's behalf he pleaded for leniency as he had recently obtained work with the Public Works Department at Saltwater Creek and a conviction might have serious results for him. 

The Magistrate said the Chinese had to be protected by the law. The men were on sustenance and had no work to do, and surely would have been able to grow their own vegetables. “It was a mean theft.” he said fining each £2 with costs.  -Timaru Herald, 23/10/1936.

Chinese Gravely Injured 

Charlie Hong, a Chinese, suffered serious internal injuries yesterday morning when the lorry he was driving down a hill on the main road in the vicinity of Timaru Park collided with a power pole. The cause of the accident is unknown. The front of the lorry was damaged by the impact, the engine being pushed back, and the pole was knocked out of plumb. Hong was operated on last night, his condition being considered very serious.  -Timaru Herald, 22/12/1936.

FATAL INJURIES

INQUIRY INTO DEATH OF CHINESE 

Hong Ark, who was admitted to the Timaru Hospital on Monday suffering from severe internal injuries received when the lorry he was driving crashed into a pole at the foot of the South School hill, died yesterday morning. 

An inquest was conducted by the Coroner, Mr H. Morgan, yesterday afternoon. 

Medical evidence was given by Dr J. C. McKenzie, who said Hong was admitted to the hospital about 8.45 a.m. He was suffering from internal injuries to the abdomen, and although he was conscious he was somewhat muddled. As far as could be ascertained from Hong he was struck by the steering wheel of the truck he was driving. Towards evening it became evident that his condition was serious and it was decided to operate. It was discovered that Hong's bowel was torn. His position became worse and he died at 10 a.m. yesterday. A post-mortem examination disclosed that the structure of the back wall of the abdomen was seriously lacerated. The injuries were so serious as to be irreparable. They were consistent with his having been struck with the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. He considered that death was caused by shock following extensive abdominal injuries. 

Frank Ewald Miller, labourer, residing in Hurdley Street, said that at 8.15 on Monday morning he was near the Timaru Park gates when he heard a crash from the direction of King Street, and immediately went across. He found the truck up against a power pole. There was no other traffic about at the time. He helped the Chinese, who was conscious at the time, out of the truck. The tracks on the road indicated that the truck had steered an erratic course before it struck the pole. 

Hector Gordon Baigent, service manager for Timaru Motors, Ltd., said that the truck had been purchased about two months ago. The front of the truck was extensively damaged and the back of the cab was stove in. There was a slight bend of the steering column and the steering wheel was slightly buckled. Assuming that the speed was not excessive, the only thing that would cause the truck to zig-zag would be that there was a very heavy load on the back. 

The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased died from shock following on extensive abdominal injuries received when a motor truck he was driving accidentally collided with an electric power pole in King Street.  -Timaru Herald, 23/12/1936.

FUNERALS

ARK. — The Friends of the late C. Ng. Hong Ark, are respectfully informed that his Funeral will leave the Timaru Hospital on Sunday. December 27, at 2 p.m.. for the Timaru Cemetery. (Hall and Moore.)  -Timaru Herald, 24/12/1936.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

Mr Kwong Fon wishes to thank all kind friends for token and expressions of sympathy in the bereavement of his late cousin, C. Ng. Hong Ark.   -Timaru Herald, 30/12/1936.

Timaru Cemetery.

Archibald Furse, (1883-13/10/1919). "too late to see her husband"

DEATHS

FURSE. — On October 10th, at the Timaru Hospital, Archibald, beloved husband of Mildred Furse, late of Otaki; aged 34 years.  -Timaru Herald, 13/10/1919.

OBITUARY.

MR A. FURSE. 

Many friends in Otaki and district will hear with deep regret of the sudden death of Mr Arch. Furse, a respected resident of Otaki, who died at Timaru on Saturday last. Mr Furse some little time ago was seriously ill with pneumonia, but made a good recovery. He went to Timaru some weeks ago to carry out some work for a friend. He had completed his task, and intended leaving for home on Friday last, and had actually secured his ticket, when he took ill in the street. On being taken to the hospital it was found necessary to operate at once, but he died the next day. Mrs Furse was wired for, and left Otaki on Saturday - too late to see her husband. 

Mr Furse was aged about 30 years. He was a native of Cornwall, and had been in New Zealand about six years. He leaves a wife and two young children, with whom the deepest sympathy is felt in their loss. Mr E. Furse, of Olaki, is a brother to deceased, whose, mother resides in Cornwall.  -Otaki Mail, 13/10/1919.

Timaru Cemetery.

29930 Private John George McKelvy, (12/4/1895-4/10/1917). "life had scarce begun"

John McKelvy was with the 3rd Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, when it made a successful and relatively casualty-free attack on German positions during the Battle of Passchendaele. Possibly the success of October 4th led to the costly failure of the next advance on October 12. Artillery which had been valuable on the 4th was largely unable to move over the captured ground to support the next attack due to the very muddy conditions.

John was initially reported missing and his death was established by a Court of Enquiry later in the month.

WHILE DOING THEIR DUTY.

Mrs Leonard, Wyndham, was informed on Thursday that her son, Private John G. McKelvy, previously reported as missing, was now reported as killed in action at Bellevue Spur. James William Palmer, previously reported as wounded, is now declared to have been killed on October 4th.  -Mataura Ensign, 10/11/1917.

IN MEMORIAM

McKELVY. — In loving memory of Private John G. McKelvy, who was killed in action in France, October 4th, 1917. 

"Somewhere in France" he is laid to rest, His life work truly done. 

'Twas a sacrifice for liberty, Ere life had scarce begun. 

— Inserted by his brother and sisters.  -Timaru Herald, 4/10/1919.

Timaru Cemetery.

10/3941 Private William Henry Luck, (3/11/1888-31/8/1916). "at the front"

William Luck was wounded in France on June 29, 1916, while serving with the Wellington Infantry Battalion.  His Army record, in typically concise words describes his wound as "shell wound loin." Another form in his record contains the word "abdomen."

He spent 18 days in a hospital in Bolougne before transfer to the London General Hospital at Chelsea. He died one month after he was wounded.

Mr John Luck’s son, Private William Henry Luck, was wounded on 29th June at the front. Private Luck was brought up at Willowbridge, and attended the school there.  -Waimate Daily Advertiser, 14/7/1916.

Timaru Cemetery.

40914 Private Francis Alexander Dunn, (25/5/1893-23/10/1918). "she loved him best"

Private Frank A. Dunn, who was reported wounded in France on October 23, is the sixth son of Mr and Mrs John Dunn, Otamita. Private Dunn was born at Arthurton and educated at the Knapdale school and Gore High school. He joined up with the 23rd Reinforcements, and was 25 years of age. Prior to enlisting he was in partnership with his brother, Mr D. Dunn, of the firm Dunn Bros., of the Gore foundry.  -Mataura Ensign, 21/11/1918.

IN MEMORIAM

FOR THE EMPIRE.

DUNN. — In loving memory of Private Frank Dunn, killed in action October 23, 1918. 

We miss thee from our home, dear Frank, We miss thee from thy place

A shadow o’er our life is cast, We miss the sunshine of thy face.

'Tis hard to break the tender chord, When love has bound the heart; 

’Tis hard, so hard, to speak the words, "We for a time must part.’' 

IN MEMORIAM.

FOR THE EMPIRE. 

DUNN. — In loving memory of Private F. A. Dunn (Frank), 23rd Reinforcement, who was killed in France on October 23, 1918. 

She loved him best who knew him well. 

Inserted by M.M.G.  -Mataura Ensign, 23/10/1919.

There is a discrepancy between Frank Dunn's date of death in the newspapers of the time and his memorial on his family's gravestone.  It might have been because he was initially reported missing, then wounded, then dead, on a busy day for the Otago Infantry Regiment.

Timaru Cemetery.

Alan McDonald, (1866-30/10/1922). "gunpowder and gelignite"

A serious accident happened in the municipal quarry yesterday afternoon. Mr John McDonald was engaged blasting rock, and, using a short piece of fuse, the explosion took place, before he got clear, with the result that he was seriously injured by rock and debris striking him in the face. A medical man was immediately sent for, and members of St. John Ambulance conveyed the injured man to the Public Hospital. On inquiry late last night it was ascertained that his condition was critical.  -Timaru Herald, 21/10/1922.

FATAL ACCIDENT.

DEATH OF A QUARRYMAN

INQUEST ADJOURNED

The death occurred at the Timaru Hospital at an early hour yesterday morning of Alan AugusD.no McDonald, an employee at the municipal quarry at Gleniti, who was injured by an explosion at the quarry on Friday, October 20, in the course of his employment. 

An inquest into the circumstances of the accident was opened yesterday afternoon at the Courthouse, Timaru, before the District Coroner (Mr E. D. Motley). 

Donald Eric Ross, foreman at the Borough Council quarry, gave evidence of identification. Deceased was employed by the Borough Council as head man, and held a certificate of competency as a manager or foreman from the Inspector of Quarries. Deceased was employed on October 20, the date of the accident, using a hand drill. He had a hole of about 11 feet bored, and this was cleaned out by means of a galvanised iron pump at frequent intervals. The pump became jammed, and deceased put a small quantity of powder down in the hope of moving the pump. Witness could not say if there was gelignite attached to the fuse or not, but deceased spoke to him about using a piece of gelignite. Witness did not know what length of fuse was used. Before setting the shot deceased cried "Fire!” and witness immediately looked out of the office window, where he was at work, and saw the explosion. Witness saw someone falling over, and went to where the explosion took place. Here he found deceased in a sitting position. Witness asked deceased, who was then conscious, how it happened, and the latter said “Instantaneously.” Witness could not surmise how the accident happened, but deceased was an experienced man and exceptionally careful. Witness had known deceased for 30 years, and for 29 years McDonald had resided with him. He considered deceased was 56 or 57 years of age, and, he thought, was born in Victoria. Witness had not known deceased’s parents, but the father died when deceased was five years of age and the mother when he was 12. Witness would not consider a shot such as was set to be dangerous at all. 

To the Coroner: From the injuries received by deceased witness considered that his face must have been nearly directly over the hole when the explosion took place. It was very seldom that a pump became jammed, and witness did not know of a case where explosives had been used. 

The inquest was adjourned till Thursday next, so that inquiries could be made.  -Timaru Herald, 31/10/1922.

QUARRY FATALITY.

THE EXPLOSION AT GLENITI.

CORONER'S VERDICT.

The inquiry into the, circumstances of the death or Allan Augustine McDonald, resultant on injuries received in an explosion in the Timaru municipal quarry on October 20, was resumed yesterday forenoon, before the District Coroner, Mr E. D. Mosley. 

Peter Charles Bower stated that he was employed in the municipal quarry at Gleniti. On the day in question he was working with the deceased drilling a hole for a large shot. When the hole was nearly 11 feet in depth the pump became jammed. Attempts to free the pump by means of a rod failed, and deceased went to the magazine, where he got powder, fuse, and a piece of gelignite. Deceased put the powder in the hole, taking a handful out of the bag. There was room for the powder to drop between the pump and the side of the hole. The hole was dry on the surface and all the way down to just where the pump was. Witness was very careful to see that no powder whatever was left on the surface. Deceased was in a kneeling position when he was putting the powder in the hole. There was a howling nor’-wester blowing at the time, and it was difficult to get a match lighted. Deceased put about an inch of gelignite to the fuse and got it lighted. Then he leaned over and dropped the fuse into the hole. Witness considered that the wind blew the sparks from the fuse down the hole, causing an instantanous explosion. Deceased did not move after he put the fuse down the hole before the explosion occurred. The powder bag was tied up and put at a safe distance before the fuse was lighted. Witness thought it was the damp sediment from the bottom of the hole which was blown up into deceased’s face. Due warning was given that a shot was about to be fired, and witness went back a few paces, but deceased had not time to get back. Witness considered that the procedure adopted to free the pump was quite safe.

To Inspector Whitney: There was a detonator put on the end of the fuse before it was inserted into the gelignite. Witness had not, in his previous experience, known an occasion where powder had been used to free a pump. Deceased was quite well aware of any danger there was. The hole had not been worked for a day, and was quite dry.

Donald Eric Ross, foreman at the municipal quarry, recalled, and in cross-examination by Inspector Whitney, stated that he had never known explosives to be used for freeing a pump. He had never known powder used in that particular way. He considered the plan adopted by deceased of closing the hole would have been quite safe had not deceased been directly over the hole at the time of the explosion. Nothing would have come out of the hole, in his opinion, but the loose stone dust and mud at the bottom of the hole. He considered deceased would have been quite safe at a few paces distance. 

Dr. G. H. Ussher said that he was called to the hospital on the date of the accident, where he examined the deceased. He was suffering from extensive injuries to his face, and from swelling of the tissues of the neck. His face was quite black and charred. Both eyes were extensively damaged, and the eyelid of the right eye was missing. The right cheek was also badly battered and the injuries extended to the back of the throat. Deceased was then also suffering considerably from shock. The injuries could have been caused by an explosion at close quarters, and particles of grit and powder were buried in the flesh. Deceased gradually became worse, septic conditions intervening in the lungs. Death was due to septic absorption and heart failure, the result of the injuries. 

Dr. Elaine Gurr, assistant medical officer at Timaru Hospital, said that deceased was admitted to the hospital on October 20. She described the nature of deceased’s injuries much on the lines of the previous witness. Deceased died on the tenth day after the accident, from septic absorption and heart failure. 

The Coroner returned a verdict that death was due to septic absorption and heart failure, the result of injuries received from a premature explosion of gunpowder and gelignite with which the deceased was endeavouring to loosen a pump stuck in a hole that was being bored in rock in the Borough Council’s stone quarry at Gleniti. Death was accidental, and no blame was attachable to the officials of the quarry.  -Timaru Herald, 3/11/1922.

Timaru Cemetery.

Thomas Haskins Butler, (1860-28/9/1923). "fell on to the deck"

Fatal Accident. 

An accident which resulted in the death of H. T. Butler, a man over 60 years of age, occurred on the waterfront early on Thursday evening. A number of men were unloading motorcars from the Trelevan at No. 3 wharf, and it appears that just before the accident the deceased was standing on a large case in one of the railway trucks. On another case being lowered, he seized it with a hook which, not gripping properly, slipped, and Butler fell on to the wharf. He was unconscious for a short time, and when Dr. Gabites arrived he complained of a pain in his shoulder and over his right eye. He was removed to his home, and later one of the blood vessels in his head became ruptured, with the result that haemmorhage supervened. He died at three o'clock yesterday morning. An inquest will be held at 10 o'clock this morning.  -Press, 29/9/1923.

WHARF FATALITY.

INQUEST ON WATERSIDER. 

The inquest concerning the death of T. H. Butler, Hunt Street, who died on Friday morning as the result of au accident on No. 3 wharf on Thursday night, was held on Saturday morning before the District Coroner (Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M.). 

Senior-Sergeant Fahey conducted the inquest. Mr F. J. Rolleston appeared for the New Zealand Shipping Company, and Mr S. Andrews, stationmaster, Timaru, watched the proceedings on behalf of the Railway Department.

Clarence Henry Shannon Butler, son of the deceased, gave evidence of identification. His father was 63 years of age and was employed by the Railway Department at the wharf on casual labour. Deceased was brought home from work on Thursday last in a taxi. He said his shoulder was strained and that his head was troubling him. Deceased said that he fell off a truck and did not remember anything else. Dr Gabites was sent for, that was between 7 and 8 p.m. Witness’s father died at 3 a.m. on Friday.

William J. Dass said that he was working with deceased in a truck alongside the s.s. Trelevan unloading motor cars When witness and deceased were in the act of slewing round a case to enable another case to drop into position, deceased took his hook, caught it in the corner of the case, and was in the act of assisting to slew it around when the hook slipped. Deceased overbalanced and fell on to the deck of the wharf. 

To Mr Rolleston: The accident was not attributable to any operation m unloading, and had nothing to do with the ship. The operation of unloading from the sling was complete. 

H. d’Eganneh said that on the date in question he was engaged tallying on the Trelevan. Witness saw deceased in a truck just prior to the accident, and gave corroborative evidence of the actual mishap. Every attention was given deceased till the arrival of the doctor, very soon afterwards. 

Dr Gabites. stated that he was summoned to the wharf on Thursday evening at about 7.30 o’clock where an accident had occurred. On arriving at the harbour he found deceased conscious but suffering from shock. Witness was told that the man had been unconscious. Deceased complained of a pain in his right shoulder and above the right eye. There was no abrasion over the right eye. Witness gave instructions for deceased to be removed to his house in Hunt Street. Before being moved deceased said he felt better and tried to walk, assisted by two men. Witness went to deceased's house with him to see if he was all right and gave instructions as to his treatment. Witness was afraid that a reaction might take place with haemorrhage of the brain as a result of the accident. Witness promised to look back the following morning. At 1.30 a.m. on Friday witness was summoned to deceased house. On arriving there he found Butler breathing heavily. It was evident from the symptoms that deceased was suffering from haemorrhage of the brain and that he could not last the night. Witness remained with deceased for some time but Butler died about an hour later. Deceased died from cerebral haemorrhage due to a fall. The question of an operation was impracticable. 

The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, adding that the mishap was entirely accidental, blame being attachable to no one. His Worship expressed sympathy with the widow and family of deceased in the sad and sudden loss of a highly respectable and hard working husband and father. Mr Rolleston on behalf of the Shipping Company associated himself with of the Coroner, expressing sympathy with the bereaved.   -Timaru Herald, 1/10/1923.

Timaru Cemetery.

James David Ramsay, (1/1915-1/11/1922) "a fine lad"

DEATHS.

RAMSAY. — On November 1st., at Glen-iti, James David, beloved eldest eon of D. and E. Ramsay, in his eighth year. (Accidently drowned.)  -Timaru Herald, 2/11/1922.

DROWNED IN A DAM

INQUEST REGARDING GLEN-ITI FATALITY. 

The inquest concerning the death by drowning of James David Ramsay, son of Mr and Mrs David Ramsay of Glen-iti, was held at the residence of the parents yesterday afternoon before, the District Coroner, Mr E. D. Mosley S.M..  Senior Sergeant Fahey conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police. 

Mrs .Ramsay said that James David Ramsay, the deceased was her son. He was seven years and ten months old, and was a pupil at Glen-iti school. On Wednesday he was at school and returned home for his dinner at noon, going back to school afterwards. He came back from school at ten minutes to three and was then alone. He changed his clothes, had afternoon tea, and left for his uncle’s home which was in close proximity at 3.10 p.m. She did not see any one go away with her son and did not see him again until about 5 p.m. when he was brought back dead.

David Hammy, painter, Glen-iti, said he was the father of the deceased boy, and he gave evidence of identification.

Thos. Wm. Curr, a boy aged 7 years of age, said he attended the Glen-iti school. On Wednesday afternoon he met James Ramsay after school just outside his gate. He went with deceased to the latter’s uncle's place which was close by. After leaving there they went down the lane, bird-nesting and through a fence and across a paddock towards tile dam. Witness and deceased then looked through a pipe and saw a file which he threw into the dam. Deceased then tried to find the file by feeling with a long stick. When he was near the place where the file was thrown he lost his balance and fell in. Witness sang out — “Come out Jim at once,” but the deceased did not speak. Deceased went down under the water and came up again, and was moving his arms and legs. After that he went down again and witness saw him a little later but he went straight down after that and witness did not see him again, but only saw some bubbles. Witness then ran and told George Ramsay, the boy’s uncle, what had happened. 

George Ramsay, dairy farmer, Glen-iti, said that on Wednesday afternoon the previous witness informed him that his nephew, James David Ramsay, had fallen into the dam. Witness immediately went to the dam and took a fork with him. He took the depth of the water which was about 3ft 6in. He could find no trace of his nephew in the dam and set out to look for him elsewhere. Finding that he had left his home to come to his (witness’s) place he returned to the dam after going to deceased’s grandfather’s place. Mrs Ramsay, the boy’s mother, and his (witness’s) father also went with him to the dam. On going along the bank witness saw foot marks, and another neighbour, Mr Smith, came on the scene and they then dragged the dam with a fork. Mr R. J. McKeown was also present during the dragging. The first time they dragged they found the body. The body was examined on being taken from the dam but life was extinct. It was at least 45 minutes from the time witness was told that the boy had fallen into the water till his body was procured. The body of the deceased was then taken, to his father’s house.

R. J. McKeown said that on Wednesday afternoon he heard that the deceased had fallen into the dam when he was at the home of deceased’s father. He assisted in dragging for the body of deceased and bringing it to the bank. There was no sign of life when the body was brought to the surface.

The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased met his death by being accidentally drowned in a dam on the property of George Ramsay. Mr Mosley feelingly expressed his sorrow with Mr and Mrs Ramsav in the sad disaster which had overtaken them. The boy appeared to have been a fine lad and one could only regret that he had been cut off in his early youth.  -Timaru Herald, 3/11/1922.

Timaru Camatery.

Allan Coupland, (1890-3/11/1926). "taken with a seizure"

DEATHS.

COUPLAND. — On November 3, at Pareora (suddenly), Allan, the youngest son of the late Robert and Mary Coupland, of Otipua; aged 36 years. At rest. Private interment.  -Timaru Herald, 5/11/1926.

INQUEST.

SUDDEN DEATH AT PAREORA.

 On Wednesday evening, Allan Coupland, a single man living at Otipua, was visiting a friend named Wilkins at Pareora West. He had supper and was preparing to leave when he was taken with a seizure, and collapsed and died before medical aid could be summoned. An inquest was held at Timaru Courthouse last evening by the District Coroner (Mr E. D. Mosley). Evidence was given by Arthur E. Wilkins, Archibald Coupland, John Coupland, Dr. Ussher, and Constable Swan. The verdict, as a result of a postmortem examination, was returned that death was due to syncope, following on acute oedema of the lungs as a result of an embolism.  -Timaru Herald, 5/11/1926.

Timaru Cemetery.

Valarie Carson Ferguson, (1928-11/4/1940). "startled the horse"

ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

CHILD FATALLY INJURED. 

Valerie Carson Ferguson, aged 12 years, a daughter of Mr J. W. Ferguson, Evans street, Timaru, suffered shocking head injuries and died instantly when a dray drawn by a bolting horse overturned down a bank at the Timaru abattoirs yesterday afternoon. 

Audrey Fairbrother, aged 10, received an injury to her back, and John Roberts, an employee of the borough council, fractured ribs and shock. Roberts, with two girls in the dray, was returning from work, and when passing through a gate to reach the stables in one of the abattoirs paddocks the horse bolted. Leaving the road leading to the beach, the horse ran up a hill, then swung around and raced downhill, the dray capsizing over the bank bordering the road.  -Evening Star, 12/4/1940.

GIRL’S DEATH

Pinned Under Dray

Inquest Concluded

The inquest into the death of Valerie Carson Ferguson, aged 12, who was killed when a dray drawn by a bolting horse overturned near the Borough Council abattoir on April 11, was concluded before the Coroner (Mr H. Morgan) yesterday. The verdict was that the girl died from a broken neck, “such injury being received when a horse attached to a dray into which she had just climbed took fright and bolted. The dray was overturned on top of her.” 

John Roberts, a driver employed by the Timaru Borough Council, said that on April 11, at 4.30 p.m., he was returning to the Council stables in Eversley Street with a horse and dray. As he was going along Waimataitai Street to the stables, three little girls followed the dray. They asked for a ride, which he refused. When he reached the entrance to the stable paddocks, he got out to open the gate. After he had taken the horse through and had shut the gate, he was climbing back on to the dray when he saw Valerie Ferguson and another girl climbing into the dray from the rear. He told them to go away, as he had instructions not to allow strangers in the dray. As the girls were getting into the dray Valerie Ferguson called out to another girl some distance away. The noise made by the girls startled the horse, which started to move forward. As a result witness slipped on the shaft of the dray and fell to the ground, the left wheel of the dray passing over his back. He was unable to move owing to the injury, but could see the horse bolting up the hill. He did not see the dray overturn or the girls fall out. Witness added that the horse was a quiet animal, but evidently got a fright when the girls called out. 

William McKenzie, a labourer, residing at 153 Evans Street, said that he saw Roberts driving to the pound before the accident. Three girls were following the dray, and one, whom he recognised as his niece, he called away. When the dray stopped the other two girls climbed into it. The attention of witness was distracted for a moment, and he next saw the horse galloping in the paddock and running up an incline off the track. He did not see Roberts, but saw the girls in the dray. Audrey Fairbrother was kneeling down and clinging to the right hand side, while Valerie Ferguson was bouncing about in the dray. When the horse was 50 yards up the incline, it swerved sharply away to the left from a fence and went back in the direction of the track at the bottom of the bank. As it was going down the bank, the horse swerved again to the right with a result that the dray turned over. Witness ran to the scene and met the girl Fairbrother on the track. She said she was all right and went home. Arriving at the dray he found that the horse had broken the harness and was standing in front of the stables, while the dray was resting on the right wheel. Valerie Ferguson was lying partly underneath the dray, just in front of the wheel, but no portion of the dray was resting on her body. The girl appeared to be dead. Witness then found Roberts lying against a bank in the paddock near the gate. He appeared to be suffering pain and could speak only in a whisper. He asked witness to help the children. 

Audrey Mary Fairbrother, aged 10, gave evidence of climbing into the dray with Valerie Ferguson as Roberts was closing the gate. When Roberts was climbing into the dray the horse moved forward and he slipped underneath. The horse ran fast up the hill. She did not remember how she got out of the dray.

Henry Thickett, butcher, Stafford Street, said he was driving a van down the bill towards the pound, when ne saw a horse leap out of the shafts of a dray which had overturned. The driver, who was on the ground, told him to get to the dray as fast as he could. The first person he saw on the scene was a small girl lying underneath the dray with the iron rim of a wheel resting firmly across her head. He immediately released the weight off the girl. There was a pool of blood by the girl’s head, but she was still breathing. Others soon arrived on the scene. 

Formal evidence was given by Constable C. G. Gadsby. 

The hearing was adjourned for a period while the evidence of Dr. C. A. Patterson was taken at his residence. The doctor said that he was called to the scene of the accident where he examined the injured girl and found life already extinct. He examined the body later at the hospital and found the neck broken and indications of a fracture at the base of the skull. The right collarbone was fractured and there were heavy abrasions on the chest. In his opinion death was caused by a broken neck.  -Timaru Herald, 7/5/1940.

Timaru Cemetery.