Inquest On Deer Culler

Grey River Argus, 6 April 1948, Page 5

Inquest On Deer Culler

TIMARU, April 5. This seemed to be a clear case of fracture of the skull said the Coroner, Mr C. W. Wood, when an inquest was opeend for identification at Timaru on Saturday into the death of David Alfred Lyes, a singe man, aged 22', formerly of Koiterangi, who' was killed when he fell 500 or 600 feet down a cliff face near the Hermitage on Thursday. Evidence of identification was then given by Edward Alfred Rye. a field officer of the Department, of Internal Affairs, who said that he was with a party of deer cullers camped at Glentanner Station, Mount Cook. The party went to the Hoophorn creek area, about eight miles east of the Hermitage on Thursday, to shoot Thar. Lyes, accompanied by Mr R. Forrester, was instructed to shoot on a dividing range west of the Hoophorn as far up as the Hoophorn glacier and from the glacier they were to work down to the Hoophorn creek. Rye said he iast saw Lyes on the saddle of a dividing ridge at 9.30 a.m. but he heard him shootig at 12.30 p.m. When Lyes did not return to camp at 10 p.m. a search party was organised and when a search was made at the foot of the glacier the body of Lyes was seen by binoculars lying at the bottom of a rock bluff. Lyes’ rifle, when recovered, had five rounds in the magazine and a live cartridge in the breach. Sergeant J. N. Croxford represented the nolice. Associated with Mr Wood, who is retiring from the position of Coroner, was Mr M. M, Enting. his successor. The inquest was adjourned sine die.