AUCKLAND: A story illustrating the hardships of back-blocks life when accidents can occur is told by the Taumarunui correspondent of the Herald.
An accident befell C. Canton on Thursday evening at Retaruke (some 24 miles from Raurimu). Canton was at work on Mr Vester's property, engaged in sawing through a log, which lay on the top of a bank 30ft deep. When the log had been almost cut through it rolled down the bank, and Canton rolled with it, sustaining serious injuries. Several of his ribs were broken. His head was badly injured, and there was scarcely a portion of his body which was not cut or bruised. Mr G. Way, a neighbouring settler, galloped immediately to the Katike Post Office and telegraphed for Dr Nelson, of Ohakune, who came through via Raurimu early on Friday morning.
For three hours he patched and mended the bruised body, setting the ribs temporarily in plaster of Paris, and sewing up the cuts. He had to pause from time to time to allow the patient to recover his strength of nerve so as to endure the ordeal. By the time it was over some men had assembled, and at 9.30 on Friday morning they proceeded to carry the injured man by relays to Rees, a distance of some 15 miles. It was 7 o'clock in the evening before they got there, the roads being very bad. The second stage of the journey was accomplished next day, Mr Way being despatched to Raurimu with instructions to try to stop the next express, which would carry the patient to Hamilton Hospital. Mr Way's first appeal to the department met with a refusal, the official in charge expressing regret at his inability to order the stoppage of the mail train. Mr Way, however, telegraphed to Mr Smith (member for Waimarino), and through his good offices consent was given to the train stopping. The injured man was by this train safely carried to the Hamilton Hospital.
• The Clutha Pioneers' Association was again favoured with glorious weather for its annual picnic, which was held in the Warepa School Grounds yesterday. The countryside was looking its very best, and from far and near early settlers of the genuine old stock, their ranks now growing sadly thin, and lusty descendants of all ages, ever increasing and thriving on the opportunities won for them by the older generation, gathered together to spend the day in social enjoyment and the reviving of cherished memories of bygone times. Special arrangements had been made for the express to stop at the Warepa Station both going and coming, and it arrived with its first continent of visitors shortly before 11 o'clock. Among the passengers were Mr John Wood (secretary of the Otago Early Settlers' Association), and Mrs Barnes, Mrs Hayward, and Mr T. Somerville, from Dunedin, all members of the committee of the Otago Association, and Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P., with Mrs Malcolm and their children.
The express and two succeeding slow trains were each met by a drag and a number of private vehicles, which conveyed the visitors to and fro over the two miles that separated them from the prettily situated school grounds.
Excellent pipe music was supplied at intervals by Mr W. M'Hardie.
- ODT, 11.1.1912
