Henry Wilson, (1824-8/3/1924). "widely known and highly respected"

OBITUARY

MR HENRY WILSON. 

One of Southland’s very earliest settlers, in the person of Mr Henry Wilson, of Wilson’s Crossing, passed away at the residence of his niece, Mrs Jamieson, Awarua, yesterday. Mr Wilson was in his hundredth year and had he lived would have celebrated his hundredth birthday in September next. Few could lay claim to a longer residence in Southland than the deceased gentleman, who came out to New Zealand in the year 1858. He was among the early arrivals at the Gabriel’s Gully diggings. Shortly afterwards he bought a team of horses and commenced business as a carrier to the goldfields and drove to the Dunstan and Wakatipu for many years. He afterwards settled at Wilson's Crossing, the settlement there being named after him. He was very widely known and highly respected throughout Southland and also had many friends m other parts of the Dominion. He was a typical pioneer and until a short time before his death enjoyed wonderfully good health. An interesting and rather remarkable coincidence is related by Mr Jamieson, with whom Mr Wilson had resided during the last few years. While in Dunedin some time ago he entered into conversation with an old gentleman who had many interesting stories to tell of the early days at the diggings. After mentioning the names of several of those who had been at the diggings with him the old gentleman recalled the name of Mr Henry Wilson with whom he had worked. “But,” he continued, “I don’t suppose be will be living now. He was 20 years older than me and I’m just on 80.” When Mr Jamieson mentioned that Mr Wilson was hale and well and that he was staying with him, the old gentleman expressed a desire to visit Awarua and see him. Accordingly the two men spent several happy hours in each other’s company, recounting their experiences together.  -Southland Times, 10/3/1924.

DEATHS

WILSON. — At the residence of his niece, Mrs Jamieson, Awarua, on Saturday March Bth, 1924, Henry Wilson, of Wilson’s Crossing; in his 100th year. The funeral will leave Awarua at 1 p.m. on Monday 10th inst, passing Kingsland and Ferguson’s premises, Spey street, at 2 p.m. for the Wallacetown new cemetery. Friends please accept this, the only intimation. Kingsland and Ferguson, Undertakers.  -Southland Times, 10/3/1924.

Wallacetown Cemetery.

4313186 Sergeant James Walter McKay, (1/12/1924/4/10/1944). "three hour training flight"

 R.N.Z.A.F. BOMBER CRASHES

Five Crew Members Lose Lives

MAKAREWA SERGEANT AMONG KILLED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 4. 

Overdue on a training flight from Ohakea yesterday, a Ventura bomber aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was later discovered to have crashed near Opunake. All five members of the crew lost their lives. They were: —

Flying Officer J. Martin; wife, Mrs G. M. Martin, Wellington. 

Sergeant H. E. Day; wife, Mrs B. A. Day, Tauranga. 

SERGEANT JAMES WALTER DOUGLAS McKAY; mother, Mrs W. McKay, Makarewa. 

Sergeant F. W. S. Webb; mother, Mrs R. S. Webb, Dunedin. Sergeant A. T. Hill; father, Mr F. J. Hill, Wairoa.

The Ventura was on a three-hour training flight and was due back at Ohakea at noon. When it failed to return inquiries were immediately instituted and all the reports checked. 

One report stated that an aircraft had been heard in the Opunake district and one man stated that he had heard an aircraft crash. Search parties were immediately organized at Opunake and sent into the district where the crash was reported. 

When the weather improved an Anson aircraft was dispatched from New Plymouth and late in the afternoon it located the crashed bomber, about 11 miles from Opunake towards Mount Egmont. Night fell before the parties had located the aircraft and they were forced to give up till morning. At first light this morning the search was resumed and the aircraft directed a ground party to the scene of the crash. 

The bodies of the members of the crew were recovered from the wreckage and taken to New Plymouth.

Sergeant McKay, who was 19 years of age, was the son of Mr and Mrs V. W. McKay, Makarewa. He was educated at the Waianiwa and Makarewa primary schools and the Southland Boys’ High School. On leaving he joined the staff of J. G. Ward and Co., Ltd., and at the time of his enlistment in the Air Force he was employed by the Southland Frozen Meat Co., Ltd. Sergeant McKay was a member of the Old Boys’ Football Club, the Makarewa Tennis Club and the Presbyterian Bible Class at Makarewa. His father, a returned man of the last war, commanded the Makarewa platoon of the Home Guard and is president of the Makarewa-Lorneville Citizens’ Association.  -Southland Times, 5/10/1944.

Evidence At Inquest On Air Crash Victims

Further evidence at the inquest into the deaths of five members of the R.N.Z.A.F. who lost their lives on October 3 when an R.N.Z.A.F. Ventura crashed near Opunake was given before the district coroner, Mr. 'W. H. Woodward, S.M., at New Plymouth yesterday. The verdict is to be given by the coroner to-day. 

The men concerned were: Flying Officer Jack Martin (pilot), 25 years, married, Wellington; Sergeant Harold Edwin Day (navigator), 25 years, married, Tauranga; Sergeant James Walter McKay (air gunner), 20 years, single, Makarewa, Southland; Sergeant Frank William Skottowe Webb (air gunner), 19 years, single, Dunedin; and Sergeant Arnold Thomas Hill (wireless operator/air gunner), 23 years, single, Wairoa. 

Flying Officer M. L. Benson, medical officer at Bell Block air station, said that he was one of the air force personnel who took part in the search for the missing plane. The death of the men would, he said, have been instantaneous and was due to seyere body mutilation and gross burning by the fire that swept the aircraft when it crashed. Evidence of the finding of the bodies was given by Constable W. T. Short. 

After the evidence had been heard Mr. Woodward said that his duty as coroner was to ascertain when, where and how the men met their deaths and not to decide why the aircraft crashed. That, he added, was the duty of a technical inquiry.  -Taranaki Daily News, 8/11/1944.

The Air Force's enquiry established that the bomber crashed while in cloud and possibly due to a navigational error.

Wallacetown Cemetery.

Roberta Mary Fotheringham, (1926-14/12/1943). "a beautiful life"

GIRL CYCLIST KILLED

Apparently Struck By Car

A fatal accident occurred on the North road, near the Karitane Hospital, about 11 o’clock last night. The victim, who was cycling towards her home at Makarewa, was: — 

Miss Roberta Fotheringham, aged 17 1/2 years, daughter of Mr Robert Fotheringham, Makarewa. She was employed by the Blue Star Taxis, and was apparently struck by a motor-car when returning form work.

About 11 o’clock Mr F. L. Price, a resident of Waikiwi, heard the crash of the accident, which happened not far from his house. He was the first to arrive on the scene and immediately communicated with the police. 

The girl was found on the footpath 76 feet from her cycle. She suffered severe head injuries and both her legs were broken. Death appeared to have been instantaneous. The cycle was completely wrecked.  -Southland Times, 15/12/1943.

HIT AND RUN CASE AT WAIKIWI

Police Inquiries So Far Fruitless 

The Invercargill police, up to a late hour last night, had met with no success in their inquiries about the motorist who allegedly knocked down and killed Miss Roberta Fotheringham on the North Road on Tuesday night. They would welcome any information from persons who passed along the road about 11 o’clock that night. 

The damaged condition of the girl’s bicycle, which was brought into the Invercargill police station yesterday, shows that the cyclist must have been hit by a motor vehicle travelling at a fast speed. The point of impact was gauged to be about 12 inches inside the edge of the bitumen on the left side of the road facing north. That fact and the condition of the bicycle suggest that the car was travelling on its wrong side of the road and that the cyclist was struck head-on. The front wheel of the machine was smashed beyond repair. 

The body of the girl was found about 75 feet from the point of impact. She might have been carried a good part of that distance on the bonnet of the car.  -Southland Times, 16/12/1943.

THE INVERCARGILL FATALITY.

In the City Police Court this afternoon, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., William Thomas Small, aged 23, bushman, of Lumsen, and Manson McCormick, aged 33, salesman, at Sumner, Christchurch, were charged with negligently driving a motor car at Invercargill on Tuesday, thereby causing the death of Roberta Fotheringham. Senior-detective T. Y. Hall appeared for the police, and Mr Mark Hanan appeared for the accused. Senior-detective Hall asked for a remand for the accused to appear at Invercargill next Monday. He said they had been arrested in Dunedin this morning by Detective J. Russell. A young woman had been killed by a motor car about 11 o'clock on Tuesday night at Waikiwi, near Invercargill, and left lying by the roadside. One of the accused had been driving the car, and the other had been sitting in the back seat. The car had later been found at Dunedin. Accused were remanded, bail being refused meantime.  -Evening Star, 16/12/1943.

HIT AND-RUN CHARGE.

TWO MEN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL 

(P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Dec. 22. 

Eleven witnesses were called by the police to-day, when Mason McCormick, salesman, of Sumner, Christchurch, and William Thomas Small, bushman, of Lumsden, appeared before Justices of the Peace, in the Magistrate’s Court jointly charged with being in charge of a motor vehicle involved in an accident which resulted in injuries to Roberta Fotheringham, and failing to stop. They were also charged with negligently driving a motor vehicle on December 14, thereby causing the death of Roberta Fotheringham. 

Detective J. C. Russell, of Dunedin, read a statement made by Small in which he said that he was driving McCormick’s car along the North Road on the night of December 14. McCormick was in the front seat beside him, asleep. He swerved to miss some cows and felt a bump. He woke up McCormick and told him he thought he had hit a cow. McCormick told him to carry on, as it did not matter about hitting a cow.

Small said in the statement that he saw no cyclist. The two were staying in Invercargill that night and went to Dunedin the next morning. The first he knew of the girl’s death and of a cyclist being knocked down by a car, was when he saw a report in a newspaper. He had made up his mind to go to the police, but a detective came to the hotel in Dunedin. McCormick, according to Small’s statement, was under the influence of liquor on the night of December 14, but Small was sober.

The detective also read a statement made to him by McCormick. Both accused were committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court in Invercargill. An application for bail was refused.  -Ashburton Guardian, 21/12/1943.

NEGLIGENCE, CAUSING DEATH

MOTORIST REMANDED FOR SENTENCE 

(P.A.) INVBRCARGILL, Feb. 24. 

A verdict of guilty on a charge of negligently driving a motor car and causing the death of Roberta Fotheringham was returned against William Thomas Small, of Lumsden, by the jury in the Supreme Court this afternoon. Small was found not guilty on charges of failing to stop after the accident and of failing to ascertain if anyone was injured in the accident. 

Mason McCormick, of Christchurch, who was charged with abetting Small in the commission of these two alleged offences, thus becoming party to them, was also found not guilty. 

Before discharging McCormick, Mr Justice Kennedy asked the Crown Prosecutor, Mr H. J. Macalister, if he could direct his attention to any section of the statute which would permit him to deal with a person who, although acquitted, should not, in the opinion of a judge, hold a motor driver's license. 

Mr Macalister: I am not able to do so at the moment, your Honour. 

Small was remanded in custody for sentence until Monday.  -Evening Star, 25/2/1944.

Nine Months' Hard Labour For Negligent Driving

(P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Feb. 28.

William Thomas Small, who was found guilty on Thursday of negligently driving a motor-car thereby causing the death of Roberta Fotheringham on December 15, was sentenced in the Supreme Court to-day to nine months' hard labour, and disqualified from holding a driver's licence for four years.  -Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 28/2/1944.

IN MEMORIAM

FOTHERINGHAM. — In loving memory of our dear Berta (Roberta Mary), accidentally killed at Waikiwi, December 14, 1943. 

“’Til we meet again.” 

— Inserted by her loving mother, father, sisters and brothers. 

FOTHERINGHAM. — In loving memory of Roberta, who was accidentally killed on the North Road on December 14, 1943. 

God knows the way, He holds the key, 

He guides us with unerring hand; 

Someday with tearless eyes we’ll see, 

And then up there we’ll understand. 

— Ever remembered by Bunty and Bert. 

FOTHERINGHAM. — In loving memory of Roberta Fotheringham, who was killed on the North Road, Waikiwi, on December 14, 1943. 

To a beautiful life came a sudden end; 

She died as she lived, Everyone’s friend. 

— Inserted by her sorrowing friends, the Hughes Family, Clifden.  -Southland Times, 14/12/1944.

Wallacetown Cemetery.

Ernest Galbraith Townshend, (1907-31/3/1925). "trigger caught"

DISTRESSING FATALITY

WALLACETOWN LAD SHOT. 

GUN ACCIDENTALLY DISCHARGED. 

A distressing fatality occurred at Wallacetown on Tuesday evening when Ernest Galbraith Townshend, 18 years of age, accidentally shot himself in the head while out shooting rabbits. 

The youth, who is the son of Mr Herbert Townshend, bricklayer and farmer of Wallacetown, was in the habit of going out shooting rabbits in the evening, and slept in a hut situated a short distance from his parents’ residence. On Tuesday evening his sister saw him about 6.30 p.m., when he told her that it was his intention to attend a dance at Waikiwi later on that evening. As he slept in the hut his absence was not noticed, but about 7.30 a.m. yesterday morning, his sister found him lying beside a barb-wire fence, with a gunshot wound in the head which had proved fatal. His single-barrel gun was lying beside him with the discharged cartridge in the breech. It was apparent that he had been getting through the fence, when the trigger caught on the wire, discharging the gun. 

The lad’s family are highly respected residents of the district, and a great deal of sympathy will be felt for them. 

An inquest will be held at Wallacetown at 9 a.m. this morning before the ActingCoroner, Mr J. Ward, J.P.  -Southland Times, 2/4/1925.

DEATHS

TOWNSHEND — Accidentally killed at Wallacetown, on Tuesday, March 31, 1925, Ernest Galbraith, beloved son of Herbert and Emma Townshend; aged 18 years. The funeral will leave his parents’ residence, Wallacetown, at 2 p.m. on Friday, the 3rd inst., for the Wallacetown (new) Cemetery. Friends please accept this (the only) intimation. — Macdonald & Weston, Undertakers.  -Southland Times, 3/4/1925.

ACCIDENTAL DEATH

WALLACETOWN FATALITY. 

INQUIRY BY ACTING-CORONER. 

TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES. 

An inquest concerning the circumstances of the death of a young man, named Ernest Galbraith Townshend, who was found dead in a paddock at his father’s farm at Wallacetown on Wednesday morning, was held yesterday morning before the ActingCoroner, Mr James Ward, and a Jury of four, of which Mr J. G. Jenkins was Foreman. 

Senior Sergeant G. Scandrett represented the police. 

Jessie Townshend, a sister of the deceased, said she last saw him alive at about 6.30 p.m. on March 31, when he was in his hut about one chain away from the house. He had then informed her that he was going to a dance at Waikiwi. As far as she was aware there was nothing to worry deceased. When about to turn the cows out after milking the following morning she discovered her brother lying dead in the paddock. It was a usual thing for him to go shooting rabbits in the evenings. 

Herbert Townshend, father of the unfortunate boy, identified the remains as those of his son, Ernest Galbraith Townshend, eighteen years of age. The boy, who was an apprentice bricklayer by occupation, was quite capable of handling a gun, which in this case was a single barrelled one, though he was at times inclined to be somewhat careless. The only conclusion that witness could come to was that the boy was killed as he dragged the gun through the barbed-wire fence about 250 yards from the house. 

Constable T. Beadle stated that he was advised of the accident by the Rev. Mr French and when he arrived at Mr Townshend’s property he found the body lying about five yards from the fence. Deceased had no cartridges in his possession, but he found an empty shell case in the gun. The face and skull were partly blown away. Both Dr. Barclay and himself had tried the gun on the barb-wire and it had snapped the trigger when drawn through. By the nature of the injury the gun must have been close to the temple. When the deceased was getting through the fence his head would be in the line of fire. It was, he thought, quite clear that the gun had gone off accidentally through the trigger coming in contact with one of the barbs in the fence. 

The Jury returned a verdict that the deceased was accidentally killed by the discharge of a shot gun whilst out in search of rabbits. 

The Acting-Coroner, on behalf of the Jury and himself, expressed their deep sorrow and sympathy with the relatives at the untimely death of the boy and these remarks were endorsed by Senior-Sergeant Scandrett.  -Southland Times, 3/4/1925.

Wallacetown Cemetery.

Dorothy Awarua Scott, (1905-10/2/1916). "heard a cry"

 

DROWNING FATALITY.

A sad drowning fatality occurred at Orawia on Thursday evening last at about 8 p.m. Dorothy Awarua Scott, aged nine years, daughter of Mr G. Scott, farmer, Orawia, who had been to the Feldwick school picnic at Mr Jno. Findlay’s homestead, was returning home, and crossing the ford about a quarter of a mile from her home, was evidently swept off her feet, and carried by the rising river into deep water. Mr Scott heard a cry and ran down to the river, but though he thought he saw the child in the river while running towards the ford, there was no sign of her when he reached the hank. Word of the accident was sent in to Constable Tonkinson, at Otautau, and he immediately proceeded to Orawia. Many neighbors came and assisted in dragging the river and searching the banks, but it was not until midday on Sunday that the body was recovered, about seven miles from the ford on the river side, where it had been left by the falling stream. 

An inquest was held on Monday before Mr David Young and a jury of four, when evidence was given in accordance with the above narrative, and a verdict of “accidentally drowned” was recorded.  -Western Star, 15/2/1916.

DEATHS.

Scott. — At Feldwick, on February 10th, Dorothy Awarua, dearly beloved youngest daughter of George A. and the late Isabella Scott; aged 9 1/2 years; result of an accident.  -Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, 15/2/1916.

Otautau Cemetery.

8288 Private George Sheedy, (1907-14/12/1939). "the integrity of their bodies"

TWO SPECIAL FORCE MEN KILLED WHEN BOARDING TRAIN

(Per Press Association)

Tragedy To Troopers From Burnham

INVERCARGILL, This Day. 

Two men were killed and a third seriously injured when they attempted to board a special troop train at Edendale at nine last night. The Victims were:

Killed 

PRIVATE JAMES NELSON, of Nelson Street, Invercargill. 

PRIVATE GEORGE SHEEDY, of Otautau. 

Injured 

PRIVATE WILLIAM YOUNG, of Roxburgh; condition serious. 

When the train, which was a special from Burnham, was bringing troops on final leave stopped at Edendale a number of men left the carriages to farewell Captain M. C. Rice who was leaving the train there. They evidently did not attempt to return to their carriages until the train had started to move. 

Three of them slipped when attempting to board the train and were dragged under it, Nelson and Sheedy being killed outright. Young was caught between the carriage and the platform and extricated with difficulty, a number of troops easing the pressure of the carriage on the injured man. 

The bodies of Nelson and Sheedy Were brought to Invercargill and Young was taken to hospital at Invercargill.  -Central Hawkes Bay Press, 15/12/1939.

LAST TRIBUTES

By Telegraph — Press Association.

funeral of soldiers

VTCTIMS OF ACCIDENT

Invercargill, Last Night. 

Lance-Corporal James Thomas Nelson and Private George Sheedy, who were killed in a troop train accident at. Edendale on Thursday night, were buried at Invercargill and Otautau respectively to-day with military honours.  -Taranaki Daily News, 18/12/1939.

THE TROOP TRAIN TRAGEDY

INQUEST ON VICTIMS 

CORONER'S COMMISERATIONS

 [Per United Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, December 19. 

At the conclusion, of the inquest on James Thomas Nelson and George Joseph Sheedy, who lost their lives through falling from a moving troop train at Edendale on December 14, the coroner (Mr Abernethy) found that both died as the result of multiple injuries sustained in falling under the train, and expressed sympathy with the parents of the two men. 

“I think it proper, as coroner, to add my expressions of sympathy to those already expressed. . There is not much one can say at such a time, but the parents and relatives have the satisfaction of knowing that the deceased soldiers had offered the integrity of their bodies to the country, and were prevented from going overseas by tragedy. It can at least be said of them, as was said by a King of old: “It was good that it was in their hearts to serve their country.”  -Evening Star, 19/12/1939.

Otautau Cemetery.

James Thomas Kearns, (1902-4/12/1930). "struck and canted another tree"

DEATHS.

KEARNS — At Riverton, on December 4, 1930 (the result of an accident), James Thomas Kearns, second son of Mr James and the late Mrs Kearns, late of Scotts Gap; aged 28 years. R.I.P. Funeral notice later.  -Southland Times, 5/12/1930.

James Thomas Kearns.

A strong young life was suddenly taken on Thursday, 4th December, 1930, when James Thomas Kearns died at the Riverton Hospital as the result of an accident at Kilkelly's Sawmill, Motumote, when a tree fell upon the unfortunate yictim while he was working in the bush at his occupation. Only 28 years of age, deceased was a native of the Scotts Gap district, being a son of James and the late Catherine Kearns. He lived all his life in this locality and was a wellknown figure and enjoyed a wide circle of friends, whose sympathy is extended to his sorrowing relatives. The funeral took place from the Catholic Church on Sunday, to the new cemetery, Father Doneghan officiating.  -Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, 9/12/1930.

That James Thomas Kearns died at Riverton on December 4 from shock and internal haemorrhage from the bladder, injuries accidentally sustained by the deceased in the course of his employment when a tree which was being felled struck and canted another tree which in turn hit the deceased, was the verdict returned by the Coroner (Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.) at the adjourned inquest yesterday morning into the recent Motumote fatality. Sergeant Abel conducted the case for the police, Mr Eustace Russell appeared for the insurance company concerned, and Mr S. Morrell Macalister on behalf of relatives of the deceased. Evidence was taken of James Stapleton and Terence Hogan, fellow workmen, who testified that the deceased was a good and careful bushman and that he met his death through a pure accident.  -Southland Times, 17/12/1930.

Otautau Cemetery.