8th child (7th son) of 11 children of Stephen Hutching & Maria Staines
. not on the database .

Waipawa Mail, 10 Aug 1883
HUTCHING - At Woodville, on August 7, Alton, seventh son of Stephen Hutching of Woodville

Fatal Accident A shocking accident occurred at Woodville on Wednesday, by which a little boy named Hutching, five years of age(sic), son of Mr Stephen Hutching, a well-known Woodville setter, was crushed to death. From the particulars to hand it appears that the unfortunate child, went out to pick fungus. Not returning quickly he was missed and a search was instituted. with the melancholy result of finding the little fellow lying crushed beneath a tree which had fallen upon him.

Respecting the sad accident which occurred to the child of Mr Stephen Hutching, it is not thought necessary to hold an inquest, as the circumstances hardly require it.

At the last moment it was decided to hold an inquiry concerning the accident to Mr S. Hutching's child. An inquest was accordingly held before Mr A. Levy, J.P., this evening. The evidence of Phoebe Hutching was first taken. She deposed as follows:- My brother Alton left the house about half-past 8 o'clock on Wednesday morning and took a bag with him to get fungus. After he had left the house about ten minutes I went to look for him, but could not find him. My other brother then went into the bush to see if Alton had gone with his other brothers, but could not find him. We searched for about an hour and then my cousin caught sight of deceased under a log. We went and got him out. He was quite dead. I took the body home. I was too frightened to notice the position of the log, Constable Motley gave evidence with regard to receiving information of the accident. Went to the spot and examined it. From the position of the log considered the deceased was reaching over the log when the log fell upon him, thereby causing the death. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.