RECENT DROWNING CASE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 January 1903, Page 2

RECENT DROWNING CASE.

Inquest at the Courthouse, Strong Comments by the Magistrate. An inquest wa? held at the Courthouse this morning before Coroner Hawkins and a jury of six, uz:—E. J. Smith (foreman), A. Millar, J. P. Marten, A. Perotti, W. Smith and W. Selby, touching the death of Thomas Wyatt, seaman and cook on the schooner Lizzie Taylor. Thomas Lowery, said—lam master of the schooner Lizzie Taylor. I knew deceased who was a'seaman. I employed | him on January 3rd at Wanganui. Last saw him about 3 15 p.m. on the 21st. He was then coming out of the Caledonian Hotel and was apparently under the influence of drink. Identified the body at the morgue as his. Do not know if he has any friends or relations. There was no money on him. I only gave him 2/6 sinoa we arrived* Arrived in Greymouth on 19th at noon. Left the Chief Officer in charge of the ship. John Connor said—l am harbor master. Saw deceased and be was standing on the off s ide of the ketch Lizz:e Taylor. Asked deceased if Captain was aboard and he replied "No." I said we wanted to borrow a boat to run a line across the river for the Corinna. Inftmswer he said ♦'Take the b boat." Thougbt he was "tight" by the way he spoke and called my assistant's attention to - it. Walked up towards the tug and in about a minute after heard a man was overboard. This was between 330 and 4 o'clock. Ran back and ray assistant jumped into the boat. I let go the stem line and Captain Millman the painter. The boat was hauled down to where man fell overboard. Deceased could not then be seen.

Wm. M'Pberaon said—l am assistant harbourmaster. I remember the 21st. inst. I was on the wharf about 3.80. with Captains Millman and Connor. Passing by, Captain Millman drew my attention to a man in the water. I saw him, he was .floating down, not attempting to swim. I went in a boat. Captain Millman and Connor let go the ropes but by the time I reached the iipot he had disappeared. I identified the body at the morgue as his. Did not see anyone aboard the schconer when I went to get the boat. I stayed some time in the boat trying to get the body: Captain Connor, recalled,—lf the man staggered at the place where he was he would tumble overboard. J. O'Brien said—l am the licensee of tha Caledonian Hotel. I remember the 21st inst. Did not see a man the worse for drink in my hotel. Constable Porteous said—l was instructed on the 21st to drag for a body in the Grey river. Recovered it yesterday afternoon about 330 just where he was last seen floating. Constable Baker assisted me to search. This concluded the evidence and the jury retired to consider their verdict. The jury re:urned the following verdict : "That deceased met his death by drowning whi'e apparently under the influence of drink, whether by accident or otherwise there is no show." His Worship said : I accept your verdict, but as Coroner I have some'.hing to say. The evidenoe is ! conclusive that this man was drowned because he was drunk. " This isjonly one in the long tale of wretched beings who in this colony have met their death from the same cause some violently, some in delirium, some afcer lingering illness. And the tale of deaths is but a light one beside the tale of the misery and ruin whi ;h abound among us, and of which only a small proportian comes before me in my judicial capacity. I say emphatically that for all this the present Licensing Law proper of this colony, and the maladministration, or ineffectual administratkn of that law are largely responsible. The last licensing poll with its immense vote for is at once a warning and a mandate for reform. A warning that the conscience of the people is deeply stirred, and that unless a roa', honest and radical reform is made in the law, and administration of the law of the sale of alcoholic liquor, the masses, the men and worren who sufer wi I extingnish a trade, which the Government Legislature fails to reform.

In that sense it is a direct mandate fur reform. I hold it to In a crime against the Commonwealth if reform is not effected.

In my own opinion (chough I have no wish to dictate on the matter), the only basis of preform which wou'd be of any value is the reduction of licenses to a population limit, making the Magistrate sole licensing authority, the increass of fees on continued licenses in proportion to those of the reduced licenses, and the direct statutory limitation of hours of sale of liquor.

The entire revision of the law with the purpose of effective control and supervision of the trade and the preventing of evasion of the Uw, is a matter of detii', but none the less essential.