The following paragraph is in "The Cyclopedia of New Zealand"
SAUNDERS, GEORGE, Traction Engine and Threshing Machine Proprietor, Pleasant Point. Mr Saunders was born at Wheathampstead, Herefordshire, England, on the 26 April 1862. He was brought up to country life, and arrived at Lyttelton by the ship "Orari," on the 14 of May,(1878). Mr Saunders settled in the Pleasant Point district, where, except while absent on two trips to the Old Country, he has ever since resided. He has been a mill-owner since 1881, and is now the proprietor of three complete plants. His residence and well appointed workshop stand on three-quarters of an acre of freehold land. Mr Saunders is attached to the Pleassant Point Lodge of Oddfellows, in which he has passed all the chairs. He was married on the 3rd of November, 1886, to a daughter of Mr David Anderson, who came to New Zealand in one of the first four ships, and has three daughters.
Evangeline died of Toximia of pregnancy about six weeks after marrying Albert Beard. On her death certificate is states her as being a spinster and there is no reference to her marriage.
Harry's occupation in 1913 was Engine Driver.
The witnesses at Harry and Mary's marriage were Alfred Saunders, Pleasant Point, Labourer and Hannah Jane Turner Mahon, Pleasant Point. (Hannah is Mary's sister).
Harry was accidentally killed through overturning his lorry on Haldon Road MacKenzie Country.
The following article appeared in the Timaru Herald on the 16 July 1931:
MOTOR FATALITY
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Mail Contractor found Dead
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Accident on Mackenzie Country Road
------Harry Saunders, of Fairlie, a middleaged man with a large family, was found dead under a capsized car at Grey's Hills gorge on the Haldon road yesterday afternoon.
Saunders held a mail delivery contract between Fairlie and Haldon Station, and left Fairlie yesterday morning on the trip, which he made once a week. He usually reached his destination at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, but it is believed that on his non-appearance at Haldon at about 4.30, Mr James Innes set out to meet him, and eventually came upon the car capsized on the roadside at a point about 39 miles from Fairlie, Saunders's body was found under the car. The cause of the accident is unknown.
The road, which serves the back country stations in the upper Mackenzie Country, is a very narrow one, with only one track, and in winter is often frozen at the point where the fatality occured.
Mr Saunders was a well-known resident of Fairlie, and knew the Haldon road well, having held the mail contract for a number of years.
Deceased's body was conveyed to Fairlie by Mr Innes last night, and it is expected an inquest will be opened there.
The following article appeared in the Timaru Herald on the 18 July 1931:
An inquest in connection with the death of Harry Saunders, who was killed when a lorry he was driving capsized on Wednesday, was opened at Fairlie on Thursday, before Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M. After evidence of identification had been taken, the inquest was adjourned till August 10th.
The following article appeared in the Timaru Herald on the 14 August 1931:
INQUEST
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The inquest surrounding the death of Harry Saunders, who was killed in a motor accident on the Haldon Road, was concluded before the Coroner (Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M.) at the Courthouse, Fairlie, on Monday.The evidence given by deceased’s brother, Mr E. Saunders, at the opening of the inquest was that deceased was a carrier and mail contractor, residing at Fairlie. He had been in good health, and had been examined and passed fit and well by a doctor a month prior to the accident. His eyesight was good, and he had been driving a car for ten or twelve years. Deceased held the mail contract from Fairlie to Haldon, and had been over the road on which he was killed every week for a number of years.
Evidence was given by Jeffrey Innes, a rabbiter, employed on Gray’s Hills Station, to the effect that he had known the deceased for a number of years. On July 15th he was at Gray’s Hills Station when Saunders arrived with the mail at about 3.30 p.m., about half an hour later than his usual time. Witness accompanied deceased in his lorry, when he left Gray’s Hill, and helped him to unload some chaff about a quarter of a mile down the road. Deceased was in his usual health, and did not complain of not being well. He stated he was late, and after unloading the chaff, he left for Haldon Station, and witness returned to Gray’s Hills. It would take deceased about two minutes to reach the scene of the accident after he left witness, the distance being about half a mile. Witness would be the last person to see Saunders alive.
James Innes, run-holder, residing on his station at Haldon, 45 miles from Fairlie, stated that deceased was well-known to him, and was the mail driver from Fairlie to Haldon. He drove the mail once a week, going to Haldon every Wednesday, and returning to Fairlie on Thursday. He generally arrived at Haldon about 3 p.m. On July 15th, at 4.30 p.m. the deceased had not arrived, and witness was informed by his wife that she had been in conversation with Mrs Grant of Gray’s Hills Station at about 3.30 p.m., and was informed that deceased had passed Gray’s Hills, which is about six miles from Haldon. Witness then took his field glasses and from an upstairs window searched along the road, but could not see any sign of the mail car, and realised that probably he had had a breakdown on the road. Witness then got his car, and drove down the road towards Gray’s Hills, and about five miles from Haldon found deceased’s lorry overturned about ten yards off the road. The time was then about 5 p.m., and on looking under the cab of the lorry which was wrecked, he found deceased pinned underneath. He called out to deceased, but go no answer, Witness then got the jack from his car, and endeavoured to release Saunders, but found this impossible owing to the wreckage giving way. He then tried to get deceased out, but found also that this was impossible as he was pinned under the wreckage. Witness then satisfied himself that life, was extinct. He then hurried on to Gray’s Hills and returned to the scene of the accident in about five minutes with six men, and after a quarter of an hour managed to remove the body. He then immediately informed the police. Deceased’s body was then placed in his car and removed to Fairlie. The accident took place at a sharp curve in the road about a mile on the Haldon side of Gray’s Hills Station. The wheel tracks on the road were covered with ice, and there was also a slight covering of snow on the ice, and it could appear that deceased failed to take the curve and skidded straight ahead, going off the road. The lorry, probably swerved slightly in soft ground and toppled over.
Constable Mackintosh, of Fairlie, stated that on July 15th, 1931, the body of deceased was handed over to him by Mr James Innes at 9 p.m. He examined the body and found no marks, and from the examination the cause of death was a broken neck.
The Coroner returned the following verdict: “That deceased died near Haldon Station on the July 15th, 1931, death being due to injuries caused by the overturning of a motor lorry, which was being driven by deceased.”
At the time of her death, Mary was living at 41 Gray Street, Fairlie. Mary died of Bronchopneumonia and died at home.
Alfred drowned at age 11 and was found by a younger brother.
Article from the Timaru Herald Thursday, December 15, 1921:
DROWNING AT FAIRLIE
An inquest touching the death of Alfred John Saunders was held in Fairlie on Wednesday evening before Mr Mosley, District Coroner. Harry Saunders, father of the decreased (who was 12 years and 10 months old) deposed that his son left his home on Sunday morning at about 10.30 to attend Sunday School. A younger son left the house shortly before deceased, and witness afterwards followed in his motor car, and picked both boys up. He dropped them after a short ride. He did not see the boy alive afterwards. The deceased could swim only a few stokes.
Harold Saunders, younger brother of the deceased, stated that he left home before the deceased on Sunday morning and with his brother were shortly given a ride in the motor car by his father. They got out at the school gate, where he left Alfred, while he delivered a message. He then went on to Sunday School where he expected to see Alfred, but Alfred had not arrived. Alfred had not stated his intention of visiting the baths, and they had never gone into the baths on any previous Sunday morning.
C. J. Talbot, a teacher in St. Stephen's Sunday School, deposed that Alfred Saunders was one of his pupils. The boy was fairly regular in his attendance, but was not present on Sunday, and none of the other pupils, on inquiry had seen him. He was a bright and particularly likeable lad.
Constable Macintosh stated that at about half past ten on Sunday evening, the father of the deceased called on him and stated that Alfred Saunders was missing. Enquiries were made fruitlessly that night, and a search was instituted on Monday morning, but no trace of the boy could be found. The boy's uncle, with four boy scouts searched the plantation but could find no trace. It was then decided to have the public baths emptied. On this being done, the body was discovered, fully dressed. Mr Saunders and Mr Wyber carefully examined the body, but no marks of violence were discovered. There was nothing to indicate how the deceased got into the water. The body had evidently been in the water about twelve hours. Apparently no one had seen the boy after he left his brother to attend Sunday School.
The Coroner found that the deceased came by his death by drowning in the Fairlie public baths, but there was no evidence as to how he got into the water. Mr Mosley expressed his sympathy with the parents and family in their bereavement.
Alice and Alfred are second cousins.