PARINGA FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1925, Page 4

PARINGA FATALITY

FT'RTH Ell 'PARTICULARS.

Constable Moodie of Okarito, reporting to headquarters, states that aboth •1.4 V p.m. on Monday the 25th. inst. Mary Louisa Condon of Mahitahi reported that a bushfollcr named Sydney George Barratt, employed bv her husband John Condon, wits missing from the hut where he stayed at Paringa and that it was feared that he hud met with an accident, as his horse had been found riderless, and he had told his mate Claude Morel time he intended to go shooting at the Paringa on the previous day. Mrs Condon phoned again the next morning, but had no further news. At A\ ailio about 2 p.m. was informed that Barratl's body had been recovered from Lake Paringa that forenoon. r l ravelled .southward and reached Mahitahi on "Wednesday unout l p,m. An inquest on the body oi Sydney

George Barratt was hold that afternoon at the house of .Mr John Condon, before Mr Robert Ritchie -T.P- (acting(V;roner). and a jury consisting of Messrs John London (foreman), (ho. Bannister ,lnr.. William A. C'ondon. and William John Hawkins.

The iurv returned a verdict —“That tlm deceased Sydney George Barratt met bis death by drowning in Lake Paringa on May 2-lth.. 192 V. there being no evidence to prove how he came to bo in the Lake.” Deceased was employed bush-felling near Fake Paringa by John Condon of Maintain. He stayed in a lint near tlm Fake along with Claud Morel, who was also Inisbfellina. Morel went to Bm e Bay on the afternoon of May 23rd and deceased told him that he intended to go to Lake Paringa on Sunday to .shoot. Morel returned to the hut about neon on Monday, mid lotiud that deceased was missing. Search was made and his horse was found riderless. Dragging operations were carried out mi the Lake later ami deceased's hoily was found in live or fi feet ol water. His rifle had been left oil tlm bank near Hie Lake, and it was thought lie shot a bird and swam his horse in to recover it. A horse’s truck was seen at. the bottom of ihe Bake near where Ihe fi, dv was found. The hot loin was soft and boggy and that would probably have caused the horse Io plunge violently when be get into deep water. lircea-ed was not used In horses ami was not a good rider. He could swim a little when stripped, but would not I . able t-i swim far in bis clothes and heavy hoots.