HARBOUR FATALITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 469, 30 March 1909, Page 6

HARBOUR FATALITY.

THE INQUEST. VERDICT OF DEATH BY DROWNING. An inquest was held yesterday by tho Coroner (Dr. M'Arthur, S.M.), on tho body of James Fleming, whose death by drowning was reported in Monday's issue. David Fleming, Inspector of Stock, brother of deceased, deposed that deceased was a clerk employed by the Bank of New Zealand at Waimate. Ho was unmarried, and was about 34 years of age.

William George Cookell, an A.B. on the steamer Maori, said that he was one of those who went to lower the accident boat. As something was wrong with it, No. 1 boat was lowered. They searched for about 20 minutes before they found the body, which was lying face downwards. Efforts were made to revive deceased, but when the body was taken to tho wharf a doctor declared life to be extinct. From tho time the alarm was given, only about five minutes elapsed before the boat was launched. He could not say for certain what occurred to the accident boat, but '.t went down bow first. The forward tackle came adrift, and thus it was no use lowering tho boat. Tho accident boat was in the water a week ago, at Lyttelton; the tackle was all right then. The boat was taken on board, and tho tackle replaced properly. Hβ could not say why the falls went wrong. Boat drill took place overy month. It was usually held at Lyttelton. On this occasion, all the crew took their places. Tho accident only delayed them about a minute. Before proceeding further, the Coroner inquired if the Union Company were represented. Captain Hunter said he was captain of the ship. He added that ho considered the questions about tho accident boat had nothing to do with tho matter. The Coroner replied that ho (Captain Hunter) was tho master of his ship, but he (tho Coroner) was master of this crew, and ho would ask any questions ho liked. He could not see how tho captain could say that tho questions were not to tho point. Captain Hunter: You must Tho Coroner: I am not going to argue with anyone no more than you would argue with anyono on your ship. I suppose you would like mo to leave this out of tho inquiry? Fred. Goysky, third officer, corroborated previous evidence ! regarding the'launching of the boat and tho finding of tho body. When boat-drill was.held, the boats on each sido were lowered' alternately. Captain Thomas M. Hunter, captain of tho Maori, stated that tho ship was going at the rato of .about seventeen knots per hour, and it took about five minutes to stop her, so tho accident boat could not havo been put in tho water any sooner than No. 1 boat was lowered. No delay was caused by the.trouble to the accident boat, A sharp look-out was kept on deck and aloft, and tho boat was directed from the ship. Alexander Rich, an employee of Young's Chemical Works, a passenger by the Maori oa Sunday morning, said he occupied tho same' cabin as deceased, but they did not converse on tho voyage , . About 10.30 a.m. witness was standing on the promenade deck about five yards from the man, whom ho saw climb over the rail and bend down over it, as if to pick up something from an awning below. He held the rail with one hand. He then seemed to throw himself clear of the ship, and he fell into tho water. Witness reported tho occurrence to an officer'who stood near. Men wero called, and an attempt was -made to lower a boat, but it fell nose first, as tho forward tackle seemed to carry away. They then went to the other side. The delay' would not bo longer than a minute.

James Henry M'Narn, purser on the steamer, said that on Saturday night deceased obtained a deck-cabin at Lyttelton. Hβ was then under the influence of drink, but capable of looking after himself. Cuthbort Mitford, an official of the Bank of Aew Zealand, said he knew deceased five or six years ago. Fleming was employed at tho bank at Waimate, and he was being transferred to Wellington. Witness identified papers found on the body as belonging to tho bank. In his opinion, they should not bave been in deceased's possession. The bank, were astonished.to learn that Fleming had .been in Wellington prior to this, and n no , t ., re P orted his presence to them. Dr. M Arthur: I must ask you questions I do not like to ask. Were there any charges pending against him? Was his cash short? Witness: No. We don't know that; his books aro incorrect. Norman Gilmoro Patterson, commercial traveller, of Dunedin, another passenger, stated that when ho saw deceased on Sunday, ho noticed nothing peculiar about him In his finding, the Coroner said that he would not take it upon himself to say that Fleming committed suicide. It would simply be that he was drowned. The evidence only disclosed tho falling and tho recovery of tho body There was tho question in reioronce to the accident boat, but no delay .whatever wm caused thereby, li, was necessary to take-theway of tho steamer before the boat could be launched.