CAUGHT BY GEYSER

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1931, Page 5

CAUGHT BY GEYSER

YOUNG WOMAN’S FATE.

(By Telegraph —Per Press Association) t ROTORUA, July 17. “The authorities controlling the Whakarewarewa Reserve are now aware of the dangerous nature of the pools there—a danger which, to my mind, has always been present; and 1 e nsider it remarkable that there have not been more accidents in the past,” said .the Coroner, Mr Patterson, who returned a verdict of death through misadventure at the adjourned inquest on Alary Winifred Runciman, of Waspiro Bay, this afternoon. Ten witnesses were called. The evidence showed that Miss Runciman was healthy and happy. Guide Ellen stated that she was conducting a party round Whaka at 10.45 on July Ist, when she saw that the Puapua Pool was very discoloured, and tourists drew her attention to a purse that was about two feet from the edge of the pool. The pool was very active that day. The geyser usually became active with very little warning. Anyone standing close could easily be caught in the boiling water.

Dr 11. Hay suid that oh July 4th, he was Called to- the Police Station, where lie was shown a right thighbone and a small bolie of a foot. The thigh was that of a female about five feet six inches la height. He was later shown the dark hair of a woman, all of which, he was told, were taken from a boiling pool. Death would result from shock, following the fal into the boiling pool. It would be almost instantaneous.

Constable Brown said that a report was received on July 2nd that a woman had been missing from an hotel since the previous afternoon. A report was also received that a woman’s purse bad been found near the Puapua Geyser. Letters in it showed that the purse was that of the missing woman, Runciman. He searched the pool, but he could find nothing. Next morning he again searched there, and he found human hair on the side of the pool above the water. Later lie dragged the pool, and secured clothing and the bones. The pool was then very active. It was playing up to a height of 12 feet every 20 minutes. A person could easily have been caught. Next day, said witness, a woman was scalded when standing on the pathway Senior-Sergeant Carroll stated that lie bad known Alis.s Runciman and her family for nine years. In a;pocket of the coat lining taken from the pool, he found keys which fitted Alis.s liuncimnn’s suitcases. He was present at a funeral service on July 4th at the pool, which played during the service. It would be unsafe then to approach within .five or six-feet-of it." ■• 0- .- <- Lionel John Bayfield. District Manager of the Tourist Dbpartmont, suid that as far n,s he knew, there were no by-laws controlling visitors to Whalm. '

“I suggest that you find out. They may need revising,” said the Coroner. In reply to the Coroner, Air Bayfield said that he had been instructed to erect notices at the dangerous pools, giving the names of the geysers, and

warning visitors. “The evidence leads to the conclusion that the deceased stood too near the geyser, and was caught unawares when it played.” said the Coroner, in returning a verdict of death by misadventure.