John William Clingin, (1901-4/4/1936). "10 minutes before knocking-off"

KILLED BY FALL OF ROCK

SOUTHLAND MINER THE VICTIM 

Per Press Association. — Copyright INVERCARGILL, This Day. 

A scheelite miner Mr John William Clingin, a married man, aged 34 years, lost his life near Glenorchy. at the head of Lake Wakatipu, on Saturday afternoon when a large quantity of rock fell on him. 

He was working with Mr William Ernest Tyree in an open shaft picking scheelite, Mr Tyree walked over to his coat to see the time. 

He was about 12 feet away and called to Mr Clingin that it was "20 past 4” —only 10 minutes before knocking-off time — and was just walking back, when, suddenly, a fall of rock weighing about a ton crashed down on top of Mr Clingin who was killed instantly.

Mr Tyree was unable to extricate him and gave the alarm, assistance being rendered by several residents. The body was conveyed to the Earnslaw Hotel, the police at Queenstown were notified, and at 8 o’clock on Sunday morning Dr. W. A. Anderson and Constable W. Roycroft left for Glenorchy by launch. 

A post-mortem examination was conducted by the doctor, and an inquest was opened before the District Coroner, Mr Donald Sutherland. It was adjourned until April 24. Mr Clingin, who is survived by his widow and three small children, was well known in the district.  -Northern Advocate, 7/4/1936.

Inquest 

The adjourned inquest concerning the death at Mount Judah, Glenorchy, on April 4, of John Clingin, a scheelite miner, was held at Glenorchy on Friday before Mr D. F. Sutherland, coroner. Mr C. E. Macmillan, inspector of mines, was present, and Constable W. Roycroft represented the police. When the evidence of deceased’s mate, W. Tyree, and Mr J. Downey had been heard the coroner brought in a verdict of accidental death by asphyxiation, no blame being attachable to anyone. Deceased, who was employed in the Glenorchy Scheelite Mining Company’s holding on Mount Judah, was working on his own account on an outcrop of the claim by courtesy of the company at the time the accident occurred. A fall of rock and rubble came down on him, completely burying him. He leaves a wife and young children.  -Otago Daily Times, 30/4/1936.

Glenorchy Cemetery. Photo from "findagrave."

Peter Gallon, (1829-2/9/1919). "stories of an easy fortune"

We are now to have a change in our roadman, Peter Gallon having retired after eighteen years' work. No doubt there are many more as faithful as he has been in that work but I don't think you could find anyone more so.  -Lake Wakatip Mail, 27/11/1903.

Quite recently Mr Peter Gallon narrowly escaped serious injury. While driving his dray the horse bolted and swerved off the road on to some rough ground the heavy jolting throwing Mr Gallon out and he either struck on the wheel or it went over his back, which was somewhat bruised. It was a severe shock to one of his age, and we hope he will be none the worse for it.  -Lake Wakatip Mail, 3/2/1905.

Mr Peter Gallon, probably the oldest resident of the Wakatipu district, died at Glenorchy last Tuesday (says the 'Mail'). He was one of the sturdy band of pioneers who did so much to subdue the wildness of Otago by their grit, their bold determination, and their hardihood. Born in Elgin. Scotland, as a young man he set out for the colonies. From Gabriel's Gully he was always in the van of the gold-seekers. From Skippers he crossed over the mountains at the back of beyond to the Dart, whence stories of an easy fortune came. But the reports were largely mythical. After trying Martin's Bay he came back and commenced prospecting in Precipice Creek, Glenorchy, where he was for about three years. Subsequently he came down to the Twelve-Mile, where he mined for about 20 years, Mr D. McDonald being associated with him for a considerable period. He then took up a roadman's duties at the Head of the Lake, engaging in this work until his retirement some years ago.  -Evening Star, 13/9/1919.

Glenorchy Cemetery. Photo from "findagrave."

Paul Biro, (1881-2/4/1917). "suicide at Paradise"

News was received from the Head of Lake yesterday that a man named Paul Biro, 32 years of age, and a Hungarian by birth, had committed suicide at Paradise early that morning. Constable Rowe proceeded to Glenorchy per launch immediately word was received, and made the necessary enquiries into the tragedy. It appears that deceased went to the Head of Lake six weeks ago under engagement to work in the scheelite mine at Paradise. He was an experienced miner, having worked at Otira and other places, and, notwithstanding his nationality, was generally respected. According to the evidence which was given at the enquiry at Paradise last evening before Mr W. H Koch J.P., deceased had been somewhat despondent for a week prior to committing the rash deed. He left his hut at 6.30 a.m., and not returning at 7.30 a.m., a search was made and deceased was found about 8 chains away, lying on his right side. On investigation it was ascertained that the deceased had taken his life by means of gelignite for the body was badly mutilated. The following verdict was brought in at the inquest: "That deceased, Paul Biro, blew himself to pieces whilst in an unsound state of mind." It is not known if deceased had any relatives in the Dominion. He wrote to a friend in Tuatapere on Sunday last.  -Lake Wakatip Mail, 3/4/1917.

Paul Biro, an unnaturalised Hungarian, committed suicide at Paradise. The deceased was a miner by occupation, and had worked at the scheelite mine for about five weeks, and during the past week he had been very quiet. He had been living in a hut with a man named Thomas Knuckey, close to the mine. At 6.30 a.m. on Monday Knuckey missed deceased, and noticed that he had left the hut in his light shoes. As the deceased did not go to his work a search was made by his mates. The body was found about eight chains from the hut with the chest blown away and a hole in the ground close to the body. Apparently deceased had laid on the ground face downwards and put a plug of gelignite between his chest and the ground and set fire to the fuse, with the result that the chest was partly blown away. At the inquest the verdict was that the deceased committed suicide while in a state of unsound mind. The deceased's relatives reside at Csongrad, Hungary. The deceased was single, and 37 years of age.  -Otago Daily Times, 7/4/1917.

Glenorchy Cemetery. Photo from "findagrave."

Effie Arundel Barr, (1904-1928). "the silver chord was loosed"

 

OBITUARY.

EFFIE ARUNDEL BARR; Aged 24. 

The death took place at Routeburn Station, Kinloch, on Saturday of Mrs Barr, wife of Mr Alex. Barr. Deceased, who was only 24 years of age, had been in rather delicate health for some time past, but it was hoped that medical skill and the tender care of loved ones would eventually restore her to health. However, her condition gradually became weaker, till at length the silver cord was loosed and the patient sufferer passed into the vale. 

Mrs Barr was the elder daughter of the late Wm, Clingin and Mrs Lewis Groves of Routeburn Station. She was born at the Head of the Lake and had spent most of her life there. Some two and a half years ago she was married, and for the past nine months she had been in residence at Kinloch with her mother. 

Mrs Barr was a young woman of very sweet disposition. Her bright smile and winning way never failed to make for her lots of friends, while her quiet charm had an appeal that was irresistible. Mrs Barr’s death will be regretted by a large circle of people. For her husband, her mother and other near relatives much sympathy, will be felt in their sore bereavement. 

The funeral took place yesterday afternoon, when the remains were interred in the Glenorchy cemetery, a very large number of district residents paying their tribute of respect. The Rev. J. Collie of St. Andrew's Church, Queenstown, conducted the obsequies.  -Lake Wakatip Mail, 20/11/1928.

Glenorchy Cemetery. Photo from "findagrave".

Colin Douglas Drysdale, (1926-25/11/1956). "into a swamp"

 DRIVER DROWNED

TRUCK PLUNGES INTO SWAMP NEAR TE ANAU 

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL. November 25. 

A Dunedin bridge contractor was drowned early this morning when the truck he was driving left the road and plunged into a swamp about four miles from Lake Te Anau. He was: 

Colin Douglas Drysdale, aged 30 of 42 Cavell street. Anderson’s Bay, a partner in the firm, Murrell and Drysdale, which is bridge-building in the area. 

The accident occurred between 4.30 and 5 o'clock in the morning at Kakapo swamp on the Lumsden-Te Anau highway. The truck left the road and went over a 10-foot bank into the swamp. 

It was thought Mr Drysdale was alone in the truck. The swamp was dragged by Constable A. R. Gilmour of Invercargill, but no trace of a passenger was found.  -Press, 26/11/1956.

Anderson Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

281407 Private Ronald Bruce Wright, (1920-9/12/1943). "an ambush"

The Official History of Ronald Wright's Battalion, the 23rd, has this to say about the day that he was killed in Italy:

Lieutenant Don Foote's patrol from 17 Platoon, which went out at 7.15 a.m. next day to discover whether or not Poggioforto was still occupied, was by no means so fortunate. Apparently expecting that the enemy would be falling back as he had done on the slopes above the Sangro, Foote led his daylight patrol forward with more resolution than care and ran into an ambush. The Germans saw the patrol approaching, held their fire until it was cut off by Spandaus on both flanks and then pinned it down, forcing the leaders to surrender. Private Fastier was shot through the neck. Examined by two German soldiers, he was left for dead and later made his way back to the battalion, where he reported the fate of the patrol — 1 killed, 2 wounded, and 5, including Foote, missing believed prisoner of war. The enemy was obviously making a firm stand on the line of the Ortona road.

ROLL OF HONOUR

WRIGHT — Killed in action, December 8. 1943, Private Ronald Bruce Wright, beloved husband of Myra Ellen Wright. Fairlie and Waimate, and dearly loved only son of J. R. I. and F. E. Wright, of Morven.  -Timaru Herald, 4/1/1944.

IN MEMORIAM. 

WRIGHT — In loving memory of Ronald Bruce Wright, killed in action in Italy, December 8, 1943. —Inserted by his cousins Joan and Thelma.  -Press, 8/12/1944.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

49275 Private Stephen Leslie Carey, (1896-7/4/1926). "his host of friends"

The name of Stephen Leslie Carey, who died at Ettrick on Wednesday, is the latest to be added to the roll of those who paid so dearly. “Steve,” as he was popularly known among his host of friends, was employed in the town clerk’s department of the Town Hall, and went to France to serve in the signalling section of the New Zealand Engineers. He returned from the war in ill-health and for several years worked in his old position. Becoming worse, however, he went to Central Otago several years ago, but he failed to improve in health, and died on Wednesday at the age of thirty-one. “Steve” was a prominent member of the Otago Rowing Club, and took part in many of the club’s races. Of a happy disposition and a thorough “sport,” he was very popular among his club mates and those with whom he worked.  -Southland Times, 9/4/1926.

Stephen Carey's Army record is currently unavailable online so my best guess as to his cause of death after so many years, plus a move to sunny Central Otago in the hope of improvement, is tuberculosis.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.