DROWNING FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1919, Page 4

DROWNING FATALITY

INQUEST AT ROSS

An inquest was held at the Ross Courthouse yesterday afternoon by Coroner Evans touching the death of Warwick B. Duncan a young lad of 151 years, who was found drowned in the Totara river yesterday morning. The evidence of G. Adamson, hotelkeeper, Ross; James Thomson, farmer, Totara; William Duncan, cousin, Hokitika; and Police Constable Stark, Ross, was taken.

From the statements made it appears appears that the young man arrived at Ross on Monday afternoon, from Hari Hari, where he had been employed on a farm for the past six months. He was riding up. to Hokitika, and was in good health, except for some eye trouble which was the occasion of his visit to Hokitika. (He left Ross about 8.30. o’clock on Tuesday morning, and asked Mr Adamson about the beach route to town. He was told how to reach the main beach, and was warned against crossing by the Totara river, which was blocked at the mouth, the hackwater, forming a considerable lagoon of varying depth. There was not any occasion for him to cross the river, as there was a good beach round the mouth.

On Tuesday afternoon late, when Mr Thomson was mustering his cows, lie noticed a riderless horse oil the Totara r',ver-bcd grazing. The reins were

hanging down, and on going up to the horse, which was very quiet, it was found that the saddle was very wet, water still dripping. ’Hie horse had the appearance of having been immersed in the water. A search failed to reveal anyone about the locality, and on taking the horse home, was informed that a young man had ridden by in the morning. On going up to Ross, it was gleaned that the horse was young Duncans’, and the police were notified. Tt was too dark to make any search, that evening, and yesterday morning a search was made of the river waters, a boat being obtained. In the vicinity of the horse tracks, after about half an hour’s examination, the body was seen on the river bottom. It was more than lialf way across the ford, about 21 chains from the south side, and in about t 6 or 7 feet of water. The water was deeper ahead, but shallower nearer the

-outh side. The body was face downwards as-in a swimming attitude. The lad was fully clothed, and on recovery, and an examination no marks were visible. Evidence of identification was

•riven, but there was nothing to show why the lad should have ridden out of his way to cross the lagoon, as thereby he was not making any short cut. The horse would he able to walk into the crossing for some distance before swimming, and there was no suggestion of quicksands. All the riding gear was intact, and the immediate cause of the fatality was a mystery—there being no explanation forthcoming of the primary cause of the accident. The deceased was a swimmer, and it is possible the horse got into some difficulty, and in endeavouring to swim to the land the task might have been too great for the young lad with all his clothes on.

The Coroner’s verdict was death by accidental drowning through misadven. ture.