William Barker McEwan, (17/12/1870-2/5/1933). "first librarian"

 DEATH OF CITY LIBRARIAN

MR W. B. McEWAN'S COMMUNITY WORK

Though Mr William Barker McEwan was removed by death this morning, his name is indelibly written in the history of the Dunedin Free Library, an institution of which he was librarian for twenty-five years. When he was in the Blue Mountains at Easter Mr McEwan was taken seriously ill with an internal complaint of which he had experienced no previous symptoms. He was taken to the Tuapeka Hospital, and was later removed to the Dunedin Hospital. He had been an inmate there since Easter Sunday. This morning his condition was critical, and his relatives and best friends were summoned shortly before his death occurred.

Born in Edinburgh sixty-three years ago. Mr McEwan was a son of William McEwan, the sculptor. He was educated at the Heriot School, Edinburgh, and in 1884 was apprenticed to the West End Reading Club. He became assistant and then chief librarian, during which period he married Elizabeth, a daughter of Robert McArthur, of Dalkeith. In 1903 he was appointed chief librarian of the Stirling (Scotland) Library, but he later came to New Zealand. He was at Westport when he was appointed first librarian of the Free Library in Dunedin, and at the time of his death lie had completed all but four days of twenty-five years of service. 

When Mr McEwan first took up duties on May 6, 1908, the library building in Moray place was in the course of construction. When the newspaper and magazine rooms were opened on December 2 of the same year Mr McEwan was praised for the care he had shown in the fitting and laying out of the library, which was built out of a grant of £10,000 from the Andrew Carnegie Corporation. The opening of the rooms commenced a march of progress under Mr McEwan’s generalship. The reference library was opened on November 22, 1909; the juvenile reading room on March 12, 1910; juvenile lending library on June 20, 1910; the adult lending library on July 3, 1911; and the juvenile library (as a separate branch) on September 16, 1912. 

From a small reading library the Dunedin Free Library has developed into a huge municipal undertaking, the yearly returns having increased rapidly until now the library is cramped for accommodation. While Mr McEwan’s indefatigable efforts in what was to him a labour of love inspired each succeeding council and fired generous citizens to contribute valuable gifts of literature to the library, he was never able to persuade the public to vote for a loan to enable the buildings to be extended. His career would have been fittingly capped if the public had shown their appreciation of the excellence of the service by agreeing to the extensions, which are even more pressing to-day. 

Splendid work was done by Mr McEwan in developing the reference library, which he maintained by keeping stocks up to date. The library has grown in popularity with students and serious-minded readers. A feature of the Free Library has been the McNab section, with its valuable collection of New Zealand books, Mr McEwan was particularly enthusiastic in this department, which has been admired by many visitors.

The introduction of school libraries was made by Mr McEwan, and they are now firmly established, thanks to his efforts. The juveniles had a friend indeed in the librarian, who never failed to emphasise the value of the scheme and its importance on the grounds of attainment by the children in grammar and composition, and also on the grounds of moral influence. 

A Scots patriot, Mr McEwan was an intense lover of the national poets and authors, and his addresses on Burns and Scott were given in centres beyond Otago, while his papers on the poet and bard have been widely read. He carried his patriotism to a practical point, and he was a prominent member of the Burns Club, for five years its president. He was an elocutionist of ability, and his authoritative lectures held attention.

His position in the community made him many friends. When patrons of the library solicited his assistance and guidance, they were immediately won by his extremely deep knowledge of books, a knowledge which he disseminated without any suggestion of pedantry, his geniality and his kindliness. He was a librarian of recognised merit and organising ability, and his contributions at the Libraries Conferences were received with unfailing respect and acknowledgment. 

The present state of all sections of the Free Library is a monument to Mr McEwan. At his passing, the staff and the public patrons will feel that they have lost a sincere friend and adviser and the City Council has lost a servant who did not spare himself in his twentyfive years of thorough service. 

Mr McEwan was so deeply engrossed in books and the library that he had little time for other activities. However, he was a prominent Mason and he followed cricket and football closely. 

He is survived by Mrs McEwan and four sons and two daughters. His home was at The Cove, Macandrew Bay. His children are: — Messrs John, James, Alexander, and William, and Misses Dorothy and Maizie. The flag at the Town Hall was flown at half-mast when the death was announced.  -Evening Star, 2/5/1933.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

413111 Flying Officer James Hubert Naylor, (5/12/1921-27/3/1943). "what a terrible place it is"

James Naylor came from Clyde and was educated at Otago Boys High School. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1941 and did his initial training at the Taieri Training School.

He then went to Ontario, Canada, for further flying training but was reassigned for training as an Air Observer.  In April, 1942, he was presented with his Observer's badge and eventually promoted to Flying Officer. He embarked for Britain the following June.  He was given more training and eventually mustered to an operational squadron in February, 1943.

At 7.50pm on March 27, James took off in a four-engined Halifax bomber, serving as bomb-aimer.  The plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed in western Germany.  None of the crew survived.  They were posted as missing until information from the International Red Cross confirmed their deaths.

James Naylor and his crew are buried in the Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Niedersachsen, Germany.

The above information is from the RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945.

AIRMAN'S LETTER

The following interesting letter is from Pilot Officer Jim Naylor, son of Mr and Mrs L. Q. Naylor, late of Clyde: —

"Although) I have been writing regularly ever since I arrived in Canada, you don't seem to be receiving all my letters. It would probably be a good idea if I wrote a short description of my stay in Canada, had it cyclostyled and sent you a copy every month or so, then you will probably get one copy.

l arrived in Canada and started flying training at Dunnville, Ontario. I liked Ontario very much and the people were very hospitable. That chapter lasted a month and included trips to Toronto and Niagara. The next started when I was transferred to Trenton 100 miles east of Toronto. All my letters from Trenton must have been sunk so you won't know what a terrible place it is. There is no training of any kind there — it's merely a depot where you await a new posting. Some chaps wait months but luckily I was there only three weeks. Those three monotonous weeks were bad enough though sandwiched between very enjoyable trips to Ottawa on the week-ends. It is a very pretty city with plenty to see even if you know nobody. From Trenton I was transferred to a navigation school at Portage near Winnipeg and about 2,000 miles from Trenton. We spent 14 weeks at Portage and not a moment was wasted. The winter came while I was there — 20 below zero for days on end and all day too and sometimes 40 below zero in the "Ansons". We managed to get into Winnipeg fairly often. The people are very kind and we New Zealanders are very often invited out to private homes (You've probably had letters from our hostesses — it's a quaint Canadian custom). After leaving Portage we had three day's leave before reporting to our next station. Seven of us decided to visit the States so a friend in Winnipeg arranged for us to be the guests of various families in St. Paul Minneapolis. (We left on Thursday afternoon for U.S.A. having we thought we needed to cross the border; the train stopped for inspection and later steamed out leaving six airmen on the station). As only one of us had the correct passport, he was the only one who got through. We spent the night in gaol with the door open, there being nowhere else to sleep. However, the one who got through explained the position to our hosts in St. Paul who after moving heaven and earth violently in all directions managed to obtain permission from the State Dept. Washington for our passage. Meanwhile another friend of ours in Winnipeg hearing of our plight spent an entire day fixing up the Winnipeg end of the business. He practically runs the city and the way he rushed around macheted his way through a jungle of red tape supplying us with visas, border crossing cards, permits for this and that including the famous Form H filled us with envy and admiration. Our hosts in St. Paul ended up by reserving seats on the plane giving instructions to the airline that the plane was not to leave unless we were on it. We had a great trip down with the plane almost to ourselves. It was overcast so we couldn't see the ground and it was dark when we arrived. The Twin Cities Minneapolis and St. Paul are two cities whose suburbs enjoy populations 700,000 and 350;000 and when flying over them fairly low the lights seemed to extend miles in every direction. We were met by our hosts, reporters photographers and half of St. Paul. (I'm enclosing photos from two newspapers). It was fairly late when we left the drome and we were driven round St. Paul, and finished up at a circus. Next morning we had a look over the University and the 2000,000 dollar recreation hall attached to it. It's a huge place — second largest college in America. We had been invited to a luncheon by the Minnesota Club — it took about three hours and didn't leave much time for the shopping. we had intended doing. 

We had a marvellous time, the Americans entertained us like royalty and we were very sorry we had only the one day. We covered about 1500 miles for that one day by train, bus, taxi and by private car and I've never done so much in so little time before. For the last month I have been at a bombing and gunnery school 20 miles north of Portage where the work is much easier and more practical. The winter is now over too. Spring has made several false starts and we had a nasty jolt three weeks ago when we had three or four feet of snow. I'm enclosing a few photos of it but they are not very good and don't indicate the great depth. We finish here in two weeks, proudly pin on our wings and are raised to sergeanthood before proceeding to our next station for astro navigation. Before I leave Canada whichever way I go, I am going to make a desperate effort to reach New York. Some of the Naylor clan have invited me to be their guest if I ever have the opportunity. (I hope you treat the Canadians and Americans in New Zealand as they treat us here). 

At my next writing I'll probably be on leave, a qualified navigator, meteorologist, radiotrician, signaller, photographer, sketcher, bombaimer and gunner." 

Since the above was written Jim has gained his commission as Pilot Officer.   -Alexandra Herald and Goldfields Gazette, 12/8/1942.

BEREAVEMENT NOTICE

NAYLOR. — Mr and Mrs L. G. Naylor and Betty wish to convey to all relatives and friends their Appreciation of the kind expressions, letters, and telegrams in the loss of their son and brother, Jim, Flying Officer J. H. Naylor, also his great friend and pal, Pilot Officer Ron Hopkins, of Kaiapoi. Both died in the service of their country over enemy territory.  -Otago Daily Times, 4/8/1943.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

Albert Joseph Nicholson, (1899-2/8/1926). "a dark object against a dark background"

STRUCK BY MOTOR CAR

ALBERT NICHOLSON’S DEATH 

DRIVER EXONERATED 

WARNING TO CARELESS PUBLIC. 

Sitting this morning as coroner, Mr ,T. B. Bartholomew, S.M., continued the inquest concerning the death of Albert Joseph Nicholson. On August 2 deceased was running out of Richmond street for a tram. Colliding with a motor car driven by Charles Ewen Atkinson, he was so badly injured that he died on the way to the hospital. 

Chief-detective Lewis represented the police. Mr W. L. Moore appeared for the relatives, and Mr R. R. Aspinall for the driver of the motor car. 

Dr Henry Walden Fitzgerald, house surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital, said he remembered deceased being brought to the hospital. He found him dead. Witness went on to describe deceased’s injuries, which included a fractured skull and a fractured jaw. 

To Mr Moore: The blow must have been a heavy one. The head injuries probably arose from a forcible fall to the ground. He seemed to have been thrown on the ground on his left side. 

To Mr Lewis: Some of the injuries might have resulted from his being pushed along by the car. 

James Laird Drysdale, a married man, living at St. Clair, said he arrived from Gore with his wife and children on August 2, and engaged Atkinson (a taxi driver) to drive him home. It was a closed-in car. The driver was quite sober, and capable of doing his work. There was absolutely nothing wrong. They drove along Cargill road on the left-hand side, and approaching Richmond street the motor car seemed to slow down. There was a stationary tram facing them on their right-hand side. The car was moving at not more than twenty miles an hour before it slowed down appreciably. Witness heard the horn sounded, and all he observed in front of the car was a dark object, which then disappeared. They felt a slight bump. The whole thing happened very suddenly. The motor car swerved to the right to the rear of the tramcar, and there were two more bumps. In his opinion the car struck some object, and almost immediately after ran over it. Witness then saw someone lying in the road, and people gathered round. They went for the doctor. The deceased had evidently run for the tram, passing in front of the motor car. There was absolutely no carelessness; it was the slowest taxi trip he had ever had. 

To Mr Moore: The dark object he had seen seemed to be only two or three feet in front of the radiator. The driver swerved before he hit the object. 

To Mr Aspinall: The taxi driver was practically a stranger to him. All Cargill road was pot-holey, and that particular place was bad. He did not think it could have been the wheels that went over the object — certainly not the back wheels.

To the Coroner: Ho thought the streets were wet, but it was not raining at the time. 

George William Colston, a married man, living in Richmond street, said that on that night he left home at about 6.25 to take a tram to town. When he reached Cargill road he observed that the car was turning from David street, so he waited for it, and when it stopped he walked to the rear. Three people boarded the car, and others ran to it from two or three directions. Witness stepped back from the car to hold it till the approaching people hoarded it, and he heard footsteps approaching from Richmond street, and saw a figure running diagonally across the road. Then he heard a horn sound, and a motor car collided with the figure. The motor car struck deceased a foot nearer the left-hand rail than the other. Deceased was about 7ft from the tram car. The car struck him on the righthand side, and threw him, and then seemed to swerve between where he was at the moment of impact and where ho was thrown 15ft away. The motor car had its headlights on, and he judged that it must have travelled from twelve to fifteen miles an hour. It was travelling more slowly than cars usually do. It was clearly visible coming along. A person running diagonally towards the tram might well not see the motor car approaching; that was what happened, witness thought. The road was full of potholes. A motor car travelling on the tram line could pull up easily; there was a good surface. At the side, the pot-holes would keep the car from skidding. The taxidriver was absolutely sober; there was absolutely no sign of drink about him. The fact that deceased was running half with the car might account for his being thrown 15ft. 

To Mr Moore: The headlights were not glaring ones. They were not dimmed as the car approached Richmond street. 

To Mr Aspinnll: The driver could not see deceased till he came right into the road. 

To Mr Lewis: If a person ran out of Richmond street it did not give an approaching motor driver much of a chance of pulling up. 

Constable Charles Henry Pratt, stationed at Caversham, said he went to the scene after the accident occurred. Deceased was unconscious, and never rallied. The driver was quite sober. 

Detective George Henry Hart said he examined the scene of the accident the following day, and took measurements ns on the plan submitted. His inquiries had failed to elicit any more than was given in evidence this day. 

Charles Ewen Atkinson, licensed taxi driver, said that as he approached Richmond street all was well with the car, which had been overhauled the previous week. It was a very dark night. He thought the ordinary lights were on in the street. Approaching Richmond street he eased up from fifteen miles to twelve miles an hour, as he saw a stationary tramcar loading for town. He sounded his horn two or three times, and next saw a black object in front of the car — he could not tell at the time whether it was a man or a woman. The car ran into the person, and witness felt the bump before he could apply his brakes. Before he struck deceased he swerved to the right to try to avoid him, and then ran right across the road out of the way of the traffic. Witness could not see just what happened. His car was pulled up about 17ft from the injured person, without the wheels being skidded. Witness drove to Dr Murray’s to get attention for the man. He had about twenty years’ experience of driving motor ears. He neither drank nor smoked. 

Mr Moore: You had your own lights burning, there was light from the tramcar, and from a street lamp, and yet you did not see the man? 

Witness: I did not see him till he was right in front of the radiator. 

Witness was questioned by Mr Aspinall. 

To Mr Lewis he said he had no chance of avoiding the accident; he would have had to pull up in a fraction of a second. 

The Coroner said that the incidents loading up to this unfortunate happening were clear enough, and there was no conflict of evidence. The deceased ran out into the road intent on catching a tram, and the motor car ran into him, so that he received such injuries as to cause death. The evidence showed that the motor car was travelling at quite a reasonable speed, and on that point Atkinson’s evidence was corroborated by the other witnesses. All were agreed that the horn was sounded several times before the reached Richmond street. The question arose: Was there any negligence on the part of the motorist? The deceased himself was guilty of considerable negligence in running out on a dark night into Cargill road, a street with a good deal of traffic on it as a rule. Gould the motorist, by careful driving, have made up for the negligence of Nicholson? The position was that the driver had to give particular attention to the stationary tram that was there, and the evidence showed that people were running for the tram from other places, so that the motorist had to consider other traffic than that from Richmond street. Then the distance from the footpath to the tram rail was only 10ft, so that a man suddenly running out would have only a short distance to go before projecting himself in front of the car. Another point (and one that he, the coroner, had studied) was the great difficulty of picking up a dark object against a dark background. In this case the asphalt was wet, so it would be hard to distinguish a dark object against it. Considering the whole position and all the circumstances he was unable to find that there was any negligence on the part of the driver. It was a case of misfortune, and the same thing might easily have happened to any driver, no matter how careful he was. The verdict would be that deceased died from injuries received through being accidentally struck by a motor car.

“I would like,” said the Coroner, in conclusion, “to stress the need there is for pedestrians to use care in crossing the streets. In these days of heavy motor traffic it is not safe for anyone to run across the road, particularly at an intersection. Close attention should be given to the approaching and this would lesser greatly the anxiety and difficulty that the motorists have at present. We have all noticed how very careless the public generally are in these things, and I hope that this will serve to emphasise the danger I have indicated.”  -Evening Star, 16/8/1926.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

Captain George Thomson, (2/12/1853-19/12/1928). "some strange people in the world"

CAPTAIN GEORGE THOMPSON. 

Captain George Thomson, whose death took place early on Wednesday morning at Port Chalmers, was highly esteemed by shipmasters visiting Otago harbour. Sir years ago he retired from, the position of harbour master and has since resided at Port Chalmers. On the second of this month he celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday. Captain Thomson was born in Edinburgh and commenced his sea-faring at the age of 14 years, shipping from Leith, which is the seaport of Scotland’s capital city. lit the big sailing ships trading between London and Australia he qualified as an officer and was second mate when be met relatives in Melbourne and decided to stay in the colonies. Joining the early intercolonial steamers he passed into the service of the Union Steam Ship Company and was chief officer of thy Wakatipu when he was married to Miss E. J. Watson, daughter of the late Captain John Watson, of Port Chalmers. Thirty-six years ago Captain Thomson entered the service of the Otago Harbour Board as tug master and rose to the chief pilot under the late Captain McCallum, who was then harbour master. When Captain McCallum retired Captain Thomson was promoted to the higher position. With Captain McDougall (now harbour master at Timaru) as chief pilot Captain Thomson won the prestige for Otago Harbour in shipping circles overseas. On retiring six years ago Captain Thomson visited the Old Country and the scenes of his boyhood. The deceased was not only expert in seamanship, but was also a man of keen and accurate observation in other directions. His knowledge of Otago harbour extended far beyond the problem of actually piloting vessels in circumscribed waters. From observation and the study of engineering treatises he acquired an intimate knowledge of the factors of scouring tides and shifting sands. The Victoria Channel, he considered, would be better if there were no tidal action in it. Technical data showed that the tide deposited more material in the channel than it removed. Apart from his professional ability Captain Thomson was also highly esteemed. He approved freely and condemned gently. “The worst I ever heard him say of any man,” a responsible harbour board officer told a Daily Times reporter yesterday, “was to remark in regard to a real hard case — ‘Well, now, there are some strange people in the world.’” Captain Thomson’s youngest brother is in business in Dunedin, where his elder brother, who died last year, was city engineer and architect. Captain Thomson suffered from heart and chest trouble through the past year. He is survived by Mrs Thomson, three sons and two daughters and 12 grandchildren. His sons are Mr John Thomson, marine, architect, Wellington; Mr William Thomson, engineer dredge 222; and Mr James Thomson, electrical engineer, Port Chalmers. The daughters are Mrs N. M. Clark and Mrs C. E. Goodyear (widow of Captain Goodyear).  -Otago Witness, 24/12/1928.

Port Chalmers Cemetery.

David Timlin, (1887-29/12/1913). "the men had disappeared"

A distressing fatality, by which two young men, residents of Ravensbourne, lost their lives occurred at Taiaroa Heads about 6 o clock this evening. It appears that Thomas Shanks and David Timlin were spending their holidays at a crib at the Maori Kaik, and about 6 o clock they went out in a dinghy to take in a moki net which had been set during the day. They succeeded in drawing the net into the dinghy, but the tide had just turned, and, with a strong north-easter blowing, a heavy sea was running. It is surmised that the dinghy tipped, took in a wave and turned over. A brother of one of the men noticed the pair clinging to the keel of the boat, and immediately gave the alarm on shore, and a launch was put out, but when it reached the boat the men had disappeared. Both men were fully dressed and were good swimmers. Both were married; Timlin only 12 months — while Shanks had one child. A number of launches engaged in a search for the bodies, but up to late they had not been found.  -Gisborne Times, 30/12/1913.

Dragging was continued to-day in the Lower Harbor in quest of the bodies of Thomas Shanks and David Timlin, who were drowned on Monday evening.   -Evening Star, 31/12/1913.

 FOUND DROWNED

DUNEDIN, January 18. A fisherman named Lewis found the body of a man floating inside the harbour to-day, and conveyed it to Port Chalmers, where it was identified as that of David Timlin, who was drowned in company with Thomas Shanks, near the Kaik, on December 29th. An inquest was held, and the Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased was accidentally drowned through the upsetting of a dinghy.  -Wanganui Chronicle, 19/1/1914.

IN MEMORIAM

TIMLIN. — In sad and loving memory of my dear husband, David Timlin, accidentallv drowned at Maori Kaik on December 29th, 1913. Inserted by his loving wife and child. 

TIMLIN. — In sad and loving memory of David Timlin, accidentally drowned at Maori Kaik, on December 29th, 1913. — Inserted by his loving parents, sisters, and brother.  -Evening Star, 29/12/1913.

Port Chalmers Cemetery.

John MacLuckie, (1863-24/12/1913). "heard the steam roller"

INQUEST

Mr Coroner Graham opened an inquest on the body of John MacLuckie this after-noon. Mr W. C. MacGregor appeared for the City Corporation. 

Alexander Smith, driver of the steam roller, said that deceased was a corporation laborer. This was the first day he had been working with him. His duty was to go ahead of the roller and keep a lookout for traffic. Witness was driving along Cumberland street, and pulled up opposite Paterson and Barr's wholesale store. Deceased was away ahead of him by the time he started again. Witness was not going very fast, when he heard the forecarriage go over something. He did not think anything of that at the time, but when he felt the hind wheel go over something, too, he looked over and saw deceased with the wheel over the lower part of his body. Witness stopped the machine at once. There was no necessity for a man acting in deceased's position to keep immediately in front of the engine, so long as he kept ahead at a reasonable distance to give warning of the engine's approach. Deceased had been previously employed on jobs where the engine had been working, and he knew all about it.

To Mr MacGregor: He was going at about three miles an hour. He heard no cry from deceased. 

To Senior-sergeant Dart: There was an empty bag alongside the roller, and deceased might have tripped over it. The bag was about 6ft away from deceased. One of the wheels had gone over it. 

The inquest was adjourned until Tuesdav next for a post mortem examination to be made of the upper part of the body, in order to see whether deceased had been suffering from any complaint.  -Evening Star, 24/12/1913.

JOHN MACLUCKIE'S DEATH

Mr Coroner Graham resumed the inquest this morning on the body of John MacLuckie, who was crushed to death by being run over by the City Corporation's steam roller in Cumberland street last Wednesday. The inquest was previously adjourned for a post mortem examination. Mr W. C. MacGregor appeared for the corporation, and Mr Hay for the man's widow. 

Dr Roberts, who made the examination, said that the object of it was to ascertain if there was anything that pointed to the man having had a fit or it there was anything to account for an attack of giddiness. He found no such indications, and no signs of disease whatever. The brain and the heart were normal. 

James William Glass, employed at Bray Brothers, in Cumberland street, said that he was in the cellar of the firm's warehouse at a quarter-past eight on the morning in question when he heard the steam roller. He looked out and saw deceased lying face down and close to the front wheel, or about midway between the fore and back part of the carriage. From the man's attempts to free himself he took it that the front part had gone over him. His head and shoulders were raised on his arms as if he was trying to drag himself away from the machine. He did not seem to have any power in his legs or feet. The back wheel then came on and crushed him. Witness immediately ran out to the roller, which had stopped by then, and Macluckie was apparently dead. No one as far as he knew saw the accident. There was a bag lying on the roadway crumpled up in the dust. Deceased might have stepped on it and tripped. 

To Mr Hay: There was a water cart attached to the back of the engine. He would say that the bag had been in the street some considerable time, and had not been blown off the water cart. Deceased fell close to where the bag was lying. 

To Mr MacGregor: The bag was practically under the engine, close to the man's feet. There was nothing unusual in the speed of the roller. Deceased's head was away from witness — it was towards the harbor side. 

Alexander Smith, the driver of the roller, who gave evidence on the previous occasion, was recalled, and in answer to Mr Hay he said that the outlook forward from the cab of the engine was not so good as it might be, particularly if a man was close up to the engine. On the lefthand side, where the man fell, there was a large solid fly wheel, which considerably obstructed the view. Witness was bending down at the injector at the time of the accident. The bag did not fall off the engine; it had been on the street for weeks. He did not think that the bag had been disturbed at all. The man fell on the left-hand side, and the bag was on the right-hand side of the engine. Deceased was clear of it. It was not near his feet. Witness had stopped to fix his bearings, and when witness last saw deceased he was four or five yards ahead of him. It was not deceased's duty to pick up the bag. If witness had not been bending down he might have seen the man. His view was impeded by the fly wheel. 

To Mr MacGregor: The roller had been running for about 11 years, and there had never been an accident with it before. Curiously enough the man killed was there to keep the traffic clear. 

The Coroner said that it was a very sad and shocking accident. Unfortunately, no one saw the man actually fall, and he thought taking all that they had heard that there could very little doubt the man was just too close to the engine. It was an error of judgment possibly on his part. The most feasible construction of the matter seemed to be that deceased either tripped over the bag or some slight hole in the road. He must have slipped when too close to the engine. He would return a verdict "That the cause of death was being crushed by roller through having accidentally fallen under it." No blame was attachable to the driver of the engine. He was not supposed to be looking close all round the engine. He was supposed to be looking well ahead of him. Decidedly there was no blame attachable to the driver.  -Evening Star, 29/12/1913.

DEATHS

MACLUCKIE. — At Dunedin, on December 24 (accidentally killed), John, oldest son of the late John Macluckie, of Uddingston and Kirkintilloch, Scotland, and husband of Jessie S. B, Urquhart. — Glasgow papers please copy.  -Otago Witness, 31/12/1913.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

2/859 Bombardier John Robert Coleman, (16/3/1891-27/10/1944). "yachting and motoring"

GUNNER COLEMAN. 

Gunner John Robert Coleman, Field Artillery (wounded), is the fourth son of Mr Arend Coleman, of Port Chalmers. He was born at Port Chalmers 24 years ago, and served his apprenticeship as an iron moulder at the Maori Iron Works and Messrs A. and T. Burt's, where he was employed at the time of being called to the Heads forts upon the outbreak of war. Gunner Coleman was a member of the Port Chalmers Navals (latterly No. 2 Company, N.Z.G.A., Territorials) for about seven years prior to leaving with the 1st Reinforcements. He was a prominent member of the Port Chalmers First Fifteen, and also took an active interest in yachting and motoring.  -Otago Daily Times, 21/6/1915.

I have not been able to find the details of John Coleman's wound in 1915 but he survived it to return to the NZ Field Artillery.  On October 28, 1918, close to the end of the war, he was wounded again.  This time it was a serious wound to his right leg, requiring amputation.  He spent the rest of his life wearing a prosthetic.  He was eligible for a 32 shillings (presumably per month) disability pension.

His occupation, in a story of his car being hit by another in Sawyers Bay in 1932, was a moulder in a foundry.  Just after his death a Public Trust advertisement described his occupation as "welder."

DEATHS.

COLEMAN. — On October 27, 1944 (suddenly), at Port Chalmers, John Robert, dearly beloved husband of Ivy Rose Coleman, and loved father of Jack and Alex; aged 53 years. Deeply mourned. —The Funeral will leave his late residence, Wickliffe Terrace, Port Chalmers, To-morrow (Sunday), after the service, commencing at 2.30 p.m., for the Port Chalmers Cemetery. 

— H. Aitcheson, funeral director.  -Evening Star, 28/10/1944.

FUNERAL NOTICE. 

THE Officers and Members of the Boiler-makers' Society are requested to attend the Funeral of their late Bro. J. R. Coleman, which will leave his late residence, Wickliffe Terrace, Port Chalmers, SUNDAY, at 2.30 p.m., for the Port Chalmers Cemetery. 

T. G. KELLAN. Sec. 

MEMBERS of the Port Chalmers Branch, Returned Services' Association, are requested to attend the (Funeral of the late No. 2/859 J. R. COLEMAN, to leave his late residence, Wickliffe Terrace, Port Chalmers, on SUNDAY, 29th inst., for the Port Chalmers Cemetery, et 2.30 p.m. 

J. S. THORN, Hon. Sec.

ALL NATIONS' LODGE, No. 20. U.A.O.D. 

THE Officers and Members of the above Lodge are respectfully requested to attend the Funeral of the late Bro. J. R. COLEMAN, which will leave the residence, Wickliffe Terrace, Port Chalmers, TOMORROW (Sunday), et 2.30 p.m. 

By Order of the A. D. C. W. JACOBSON, Secretary.   -Evening Star, 28/10/1944.

Port Chalmers Cemetery.