A 9 year old boy was killed crossing New North Road to Porters Avenue, Eden Terrace with friends about 3.30 p.m. 9 February 1916.
It appears that the small group had walked around a baker's cart which was parked near the kerb as they prepared to cross the road. All but Harold had noticed the approach of a car and waited until it had passed, but Harold ran out and the car struck him, running him over by its front wheels.
A Doctor was called whilst Harold was moved from the road to the back room of a local store, but Harold had suffered a fatal skull fracture and Dr. Peter Moir could only pronounce life extinct.
By a sad quirk of fate, the car was driven by Mr. C. Little, undertaker, of Hobson Street who was returning from Waikumete Cemetery with the Reverend Father Bleakley who had presided at the funeral of another young boy killed the previous weekend.
An inquest was held and Harold was described as a usually careful boy with good sight and hearing. Witnesses reported seeing two boys stop kerbside as a car approached, but the third boy ran out. They commented that perhaps he had not initially seen the car because he appeared to hesitate, and then continued running. The car, which witnesses determined not to have been travelling fast, had swerved to try and avoid the boy, but had been unable to miss him.
The coroner reached a verdict of accidental death and did not hold the driver responsible for the boy’s unfortunate death.
Non Conformist Division C, Row 1,
Plot 50: Harold Thomas Gardner (11) 1916
Rosa Nancy Gardner (67) 1938 – Mrs
In Loving Memory of
our dear mother
ROSA GARDNER
died Aug. 9th 1938 aged 67
also her son
HAROLD GARDNER
died Feb. 1916 aged 10
Compiled by Susan Reid, Discover Waikumete
Sources: Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers
Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 34, 9 February 1916 article “Motor Fatality”
Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 40, 16 February 1916 “Fatal Motor Accident”
No comments:
Post a Comment