1871 West Coast Times,  21 December 1871: A fatal accident occurred on Saturday last at Rangiora (Canterbury) to a youth, a son of Mr T. Barnard, through being thrown from a butcher's cart belonging to Mr G. Cone, the horse of which had bolted, and one of the wheels passing over his neck. Another in the vehicle with him, had a narrow escape.

Star , 18 Dec 1871: Fatal Accident: Whilst Mr Cone's (butcher) cart was returning to Rangiora, from Eyreton, on Saturday afternooon, in charge of one of his men, a boy named Barnard son of Mr Albert Barnard, of Rangiora was thrown out and killed. It seems the horses took fright at something on the side of the road, opposite Mr Dilley's house, and bolted. A young man named William Sellars was also thrown from the cart, one wheel passing over his thigh, but fortunately only slightly bruising him. In the case of the boy Barnard, one wheel went over his neck, and it is believed he was killed almost instantaneously. On Sellars fallng off he became entangled with the harness, and was dragged for some distance before he got clear. An inquest will be held to-day.

Press,  20 Dec. 1871 INQUEST. An inquest was held on Monday at the Junction Hotel, Rangiora, before Charles Dudley, Esq., M.D., the coroner of the district, on the body of Albert Barnard, son of Mr T. C. Barnard, watchmaker, who was killed on Saturday last, in falling put of a runaway cart. Mr Johnson was chosen foreman of the jury. The following evidence was taken

Charles Barnard, deposed - l am a general dealer, living in Christchurch, I have seen deceased - he was my brother; his age is twelve years and eight months.

William Sellars - I am in the employ of Mr George Cone, butcher, Rangiora, and have been in the habit of driving his cart. I remember Saturday last. On that day I drove to Eyreton to supply Mr Cone's customers with meat. Albert Barnard went with me for his own amusement. In coming home, when near Mr Dailey's gate, the horse shied, and ran into his premises. The horse shied at some bags of coal that were lying near the gate. It stopped snddenly, and broke the backhand, when I was thrown out, and the horse bolted with deceased in the cart into Mr Dailey's paddock. I called-to deceased, telling him to jump out; but he did not do so. When I was thrown out I became entangled in the reins, and fell under the wheel, which passed over me. I got up and found that deceased was still in the cart, which was at the top of the paddock. Deceased then either jumped or fell out of the cart, over the left side. I think he fell on his head, and the wheel went over hie shoulders or neck. I ran and picked him up. He was lying on his back quite dead, and did not move after the wheel went over him. I carried him to Mr Dailey's, and Mrs Dailey came to meet me. I have been used to drive horses for three or four years. I have been with Mr Cone a fortnight, and during that time have regularly driven the horse I had on Saturday, and always,found him quiet. I am aware that he is given to shying, but was not at all afraid to drive him. I allowed deceased to drive for about a mile and a-half across the plains, but drove home myself. When the back-band broke the shafts fell to the ground, which caused the horse to run away.

Eliza Anne Dailey - I am the wife of Mr Dailey, farmer, and live on the Mandeville plains. I remember Saturday last. A horse and cart ran away near my house on that day. I saw deceased being carried towards my house by the last witness, who called out for some water. I took some water and went to meet him, and bathed the head and hands of deceased, but found him quite dead. I know the cart belongs to Mr Cone. I saw the horse galloping about the paddock with the harness on, and dragging part of the cart. There is a creek across the road near my house, with a bridge over it, but there is not a handrail to the bridge. A slab was lying near the bridge belonging to the Roard Board. The accident happened on Saturday last, at about four o'clock.

The Coroner said that the Road Board ought to be cautioned not to leave timber, &c, lying about the bridges that have been under repairs. The Jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death," and the foreman was requested to draw the attention of the Eyreton Road Board to the dangerous condition of the bridge in question, it being without the usual handrail.

The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, and was attended by a number of friends of the deceased and others.

   

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