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.

Henry John Keenan, (1903-12/11/1939). "in the pumping chamber"

MAN DROWNED.

Tragedy at Klondyke. 

BODY FOUND IN PUMP-HOUSE. 

The body of Mr Henry John Keenan, aged 37 years, who resided at Timaru, was found in the pumping chamber at the pump-house at Klondyke this morning. 

Mr Keenan went on duty at midnight, to watch the electric pumps which supply water to the County races near the intake to the irrigation race a mile or two above the headquarters of the Public Works Department. He was to have come off duty at 8 a.m., but the relief man who went to the pumping station 15 minutes before that hour could not find any trace of Mr Keenan. 

The pumping chamber was drained and the body was found at the bottom. The body was brought to the morgue at the Ashburton Public Hospital, where an inquest was opened this afternoon by the District Coroner (Mr E. C. Bathurst). Only evidence of identification was taken.  -Ashburton Guardian, 13/11/1939.

INQUEST HELD

DEATH OF PUMP ATTENDANT.

Accident at irrigation works. 

That death was due to asphyxia caused by immersion in water, deceased apparently having accidently slipped in to the sump at the North Hinds River irrigation excavation while going on duty at midnight on November 12-13; there being no evidence to show how he fell into the water. This was the verdict given by the District Coroner (Mr E. C. Bathurst) at the conclusion of the inquest hold yesterday afternoon into the death of Henry John Keenan, aged 36, of Timaru, who was found dead at the bottom of an excavation sump at the Public Works diversion race near Surrey Hills last Monday week.

Constable J. A. Paddy (Methven) conducted the police inquiry, Mr W. D. Campbell (Timaru) represented the Public Works Department and Mr J. G. Leckie (Timaru) appeared for the New Zealand Workers’ Union and Keenan’s relatives. 

Arthur Charles Henderson, a carpenter, employed by the Public Works Department at Rangitata, stated that about 11.15 p.m. on November 12 he passed deceased on the road, and he appeared to be in good health and in cheery spirits. Deceased was on his way to work, and they exchanged greetings. 

Frederick Brown, a labourer employed by the Public Works Department gave evidence that he was one of the first six to arrive at the sump on the following morning. The first thing he noticed when he arrived was the lights of the machine were on. In his opinion deceased was raising the handle of the pump which became detached from the pump and caused him to fall backwards.

Medical evidence was given by Dr. J. Russell Wells who said that death was due to asphyxia caused through immersion in water, but there was no post mortem evidence to indicate how deceased fell in. There was no evidence of alcohol having been consumed. 

Walter Bignell, an overseer, employed by the Public Works Department at the Rangitata diversion race gave evidence that at 8.15 a.m. on November 13. he made an inspection of the pumping plant. If the deceased had been carrying out his work during the night the sump, which was 16 feet deep, would have been empty. The sump was full to the top with water. He ordered the sump to be emptied and the body of deceased was found at the bottom. The plant was standing on a wooden decking over one edge of the excavation and there were three feet on either side of the plant for the attendant to walk on while attending the plant. 

In reply to Mr Leckie witness said that there were no rails around the sump at the time of the accident, but since then protections had been put up. He said he considered that it had not previously occurred to him that there was any need for a protecting rail. There was a hole in the decking over which it may have been possible for the deceased to have tripped. 

To Mr Paddy witness said that Keenan may not have fallen off the decking into the sump. He may have fallen off the track on the north side of the excavation.

Constable Paddy gave evidence of finding of the body after the excavation had been drained. He said that Keenan fell into the water after slipping on the decking which that night would have been in a slippery condition on account of a heavy frost.  -Ashburton Guardian, 23/11/1939.

Timaru Cemetery.

Eric Wood, (1917-20/3/1939). "sudden extensive fall"

SEVERAL TONS OF ROCK COLLAPSE ON THREE WORKMEN

(Per Press Association).

One Killed In Quarry Accident

TIMARU, Last Night. One man was buried alive and two others injured, one seriously, when, without warning, several thousand tons of rock and debris fell in a quarry at the Cave lime works, 20 miles from Timaru, this morning. 

The man who was buried alive was Eric Woods, married, who resided at Cave. James Gunn McVey suffered severe internal injuries, and Marcus McVey, his brother, a dislocated shoulder and head injuries. 

Marcus McVey was working at the top of the cliff face 100 feet high when the face gave way. He gripped at the safety rope but missed and fell on top of the falling rock. 

Woods, who was buried, was working a few feet from the bottom of the cliff and was trapped without hope of escape. James McVey was working on a tractor scoop at the foot of the cliff, and the tractor was buried 20 yards across the flat and down the bank. McVey retained his seat till the tractor came to rest at the bottom of the hank, where he was thrown a further 15 feet among willows. When found he had a large limestone rock across his groin. 

A fourth man in the quarry, Alfred Kerr, escaped uninjured.  -Central Hawkes Bay Press, 21/3/1939.

MAN BURIED ALIVE

CLIFF FACE FALLS IN QUARRY 

TWO OTHERS HURT IN LIME WORKS ACCIDENT 

(From Our Own Reporter.) TIMARU, March 20. 

One man is presumed killed and two were injured, one gravely, by a fall of thousands of tons of limestone from the 100-foot face of the quarry at the Cave lime works, at 10.30 this morning. 

Killed Eric Woods, married, aged 22, labourer, of Cave. The body has not yet been recovered. 

Injured James Gunn McVey, single, aged about 40, internal injuries and shock. 

Foreman Marcus Roderick McVey, single, younger brother of James McVey, dislocated shoulder, head injuries, and shock. 

A fourth man, Murdoch Alfred Kerr, heard a warning yell from Marcus McVey, and managed to get clear, escaping injury. 

The four men were working on a narrow strip of land between the Tengawai river and the quarry face, which is reached by a light railway bridge over the river from the crushing plant on the Timaru-Fairlie main highway. Eric Woods was on the face of a cliff clearing loose matter, which was picked up by a tractor scoop driven by James McVey. Kerr was about 12 feet to one side of Woods, and Marcus McVey was on top of the cliff. 

Warning Given Marcus McVey felt the cliff give way, and yelled a warning to the others. Kerr heard his call and ran clear. James McVey was thrown about 40 feet, apparently through a boulder striking the tractor, which was pushed over the bank and partially destroyed. Woods was not seen again. Marcus McVey fell with the cliff face, and was buried to the waist in debris. 

The injured men were taken to Timaru, and James McVey admitted to hospital. He was given a blood transfusion, and after an operation his condition was reported to be satisfactory. 

Nelson McVey, youngest of the three brothers — who operated the works on contract with the South Canterbury Lime Company — and Walter Hessell were bagging lime in the works when they heard a fall. On the bridge they met Kerr, who after moving a large boulder off James McVey, was running for assistance. Marcus McVey managed to free himself. 

Word of the accident was sent to Timaru immediately and the managing secretary of the company, Mr M. M. Enting, made arrangements for the urgent dispatch of heavy machinery to move the debris, in which were rocks the size of an ordinary dwelling room. 

Woods had no family. He had been employed at the works at various times in the last two years, and had only recommenced on Friday last. Had a rush order not been received this morning, all six men would have been at the quarry face, which was being cleared preparatory to blasting in the afternoon. There were no explosives there at the time of the fall. 

At a late hour this afternoon, machinery from Timaru had not arrived at Cave, but even with its assistance there is little likelihood of Woods being found for a day or two. It was stated that in accordance with his usual practice, James McVey had tested the whole of the face before work began this morning, and found it safe then. No further falls occurred during the day.  -Press, 21/3/1939.

BODY RECOVERED

VICTIM OF QUARRY ACCIDENT

[From Our Own Reporter.] TIMARU, March 22.

The body of Eric Woods, a married man, of Cave, who was killed by a fall of limestone in the quarry of the Cave lime works on Monday morning, was recovered this afternoon. From the appearance of the body, it was evident that death must have been instantaneous. It was extricated at 5 o’clock and taken to the morgue at Timaru, where an inquest will later be held. 

The condition of James Gunn McVey, who was injured in the same accident, was still serious to-night, and there had been no change in his condition during the day.  -Press, 23/3/1939.

SOUTH CANTERBURY TRAGEDY. — The scene after the accident at the Cave lime works this week, when thousands of tons of limestone crashed down a cliff face, burying alive Eric Woods, aged 22. Three other men had a narrow escape.   -Auckland Star, 24/3/1939.

FUNERAL

WOOD. — The Friends of the late Eric Wood are respectfully informed that his Funeral will leave his mother’s residence, 39 North Street, Timaru, This Day (Thursday), March 2,. at 3 p.m., for the Timaru Cemetery. (Sewell Bros.)  -Timaru Herald, 23/3/1939.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Mrs E. Wood. Mrs E. A. Wood and Family desire to express their thanks for all expressions of sympathy tendered during their recent sad bereavement.

The relatives of the late Eric Wood desire to express their gratitude to all who toiled so arduously, also to those who offered their assistance in the recovering of their loved one.  -Timaru Herald, 27/3/1939.

DEATH IN FALL OF ROCK

ACCIDENT AT CAVE VERDICT GIVEN AT INQUEST 

(From Our Own Reporter.) TIMARU. May 12. 

“It is quite clear that he met his death by a sudden fall of rock,’’ said the Coroner, Mr H, Morgan, S.M., at the conclusion of the inquest held at Timaru to-day to investigate the circumstances of the accident at Cave on March 20 last, whereby a young man, Eric Wood, lost his life. The verdict was that Wood was killed instantly by a sudden extensive fall of rock at the quarry of the Timaru Lime Company, Ltd,, at Cave. 

Sergeant R. Henry conducted proceedings for the police, Mr L. G. Cameron appeared for the widow of Wood, Mr L. M. Inglis for the General Labourers’ Union, and Mr W. H. Walton for the insurance company holding a cover over the employees of the company. 

Sergeant Henry said that James McVey, one of the victims of the accident, was still seriously ill in hospital. 

At 11 a.m. on March 20 a slip occurred at the quarry, completely burying and killing Eric Wood, said Marcus Frederick McVey (Cave), contractor, giving evidence. Wood had been engaged at the bottom of the quarry face shovelling soil on to a tractor. Witness started work at 7.30 a.m. with Wood, Murdoch, Alfred Kerr, and his two brothers, He was working at the top of the quarry, where a hole had been drilled into the rock to a depth of 20ft, in preparation for a shot. He “bulled” the hole about 8 o’clock, and swabbed it out about an hour later, He had inserted in the hole a full charge of dynamite, consisting of 134 plugs, and he had in his hand a fuse to which was attached the detonator inserted in a plug of explosive in readiness for insertion into the hole, when about 11 a.m., without any warning, the face gave way from under his feet. When he first felt the movement he yelled and grabbed at a rope, which, however, he could not hold. Something seemed to strike his shoulder, and he slid down with the rock, landing close to the face, where he was buried to his waist in debris. After extricating himself he saw his brother James lying by some trees near a tractor, apparently badly injured. The fall was sudden and fast, and anyone working beneath it would have a remote chance of getting away. He could give no reason for the slip, which was not caused by a premature explosion. He had been working on the quarry for some time and no similar slip had occurred. There was nothing to indicate from an examination of the face that the slip was likely to occur. His brother James always fired the shot himself. He had considerable experience in this class of work. 

Evidence was also given by Montague Martin Enting, managing secretary of the company. 

In answer to the Coroner, T. McMillan, inspector of quarries for the southern district, said that in his opinion the accident was caused by hidden cross facings in the quarry.  -Press, 13/5/1939.

Timaru Cemetery.

13199 Major James Wilfred McArther, MC, MiD, (3/9/1906-29/7/1966). ""

 

SERVICE HONOURS

AWARD TO CLYDE OFFICER 

WINNER OF MILITARY CROSS 

Major J. W. McArthur, who has been awarded the Military Cross, is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs James McArthur, of Strath Clyde. Major McArthur enlisted in March, 1940, and entered Burnham camp with the 3rd Reinforcements as a private. He was commissioned in New Zealand and attended a special course in Australia before going to the Middle East with the Seventh Reinforcements. He joined the 23rd Battalion at El Alamein and is now second in command. Major McArthur received most of his primary education at the Clyde school and his secondary education at Otago Boys’ High School where he captained the football team in 1925. He trained as a teacher at Dunedin Training College, and has been on the staffs of the Alexandra, Ravensbourne, Lawrence, Lumsden, Invercargill South, and Tuapeka Mouth schools. Major McArthur has four brothers serving overseas.  -Otago Daily Times, 13/7/1945.

On Tuesday evening at Earnscleugh, a Welcome Home was tendered to Major McArthur M.C. and Cpl. Bell. The Chairman, Mr, E. J. Iversen, made the customary presentation and Mrs W. Hinton, on behalf of the Womens Patriotic Committee, made gifts to the guests. Mr J. R. McKissock, R.S.A.. also spoke.  -Alexander Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 12/9/1945.

CLYDE

SERVICEMEN WELCOMED 

Seven returned servicemen were entertained by the Clyde people on Tuesday night at a social in the Town Hall. As at past functions of this nature, there was a large attendance of the public, with many visitors from the surrounding districts. Three of the five McArthur brothers overseas were included in the §arty — Major J. W. McArthur, M.C., Signalman I. McArthur, and Private G. McArthur. Private G. Stevens, a prisoner of war taken in Africa, who is one of four brothers in the forces, and three R.N.Z.A.F. personnel — A.C.2 R. Russell, A.C. D. Williams, and A.C. F. Holdom — completed the number. Mr J. L. Davidson, on behalf of those present, expressed his pleasure at the safe return of the men, and thanked them for their services overseas. He handed each man the usual gift from the local committee. Mr W. K. George, on behalf of the R.S.A., also extended a hearty welcome. Major McArthur replied on behalf of his brothers and himself, especially thanking the Women’s Guild for parcels sent to them and other kindly actions, which were highly appreciated by the recipients. The other men all briefly replied in similar manner.  -Otago Daily Times, 24/9/1945.

Crashed On Beach 

A man was killed in a car accident on the state highway six miles north of Palmerston on Friday night. He was John Wilfred McArthur, aged 55 of Thomson street, Alexandra. Three other occupants of the car were taken to Dunedin Public Hospital. They are Allan Russell Aitken, aged 39, of Royal terrace, Alexandra, who was treated and discharged, Alexander Ronald Turnbull, aged 41, of 10 Brandon street, Alexandra, and Sydney James Wormald, aged 41, of 38 Ventry street, Alexandra, both of whom were admitted and were said to be “progressing favourably.” The car overshot the corner at the Shag Point turn-off and crashed 30ft to the beach.   -Press, 1/8/1966.

Alexandra Cemetery.

9/759 Sergeant James Gilbert Morrison, (26/1/1886-13/7/1915). "regret to advise you"

DEATH OF TTMARU MAN. 

Mrs S. Morrison, of Timaru, has received the following telegram from the Minister of Defence (the Hon. James Allen): — "Regret to advise you cable received this day reports that your son. 9-759 Sergeant James Gilbert Morrison, was killed in action, July 13, 1915. Please accept my sincerest sympathy in the loss which you and New Zealand has suffered." Sergt. Morrison was well known in Timaru, where he was employed for eight years in Mr P. G. Allen's seed shop. He took a prominent part in local sports. His father is caretaker of Chalmers Church.  -Timaru Herald, 3/8/1915.

Sergeant James Gilbert Morrison, Otago Infantry, who was killed in action on July 13, was born and educated in Otago, but later came to Timaru. When the war broke out he joined the Otago quota to the Main Body as a private, and had since been promoted to sergeant. He took a keen interest in sports of all kinds, and was for many years one of the representative rowers of the Timaru Club.  -Otago Witness, 25/8/1915.

The period of the Gallipoli campaign in which James Morrison was killed was a relatively quiet one.  It is possible that he was killed by a sniper.

Timaru Cemetery.