THE DEATH OF THOMAS HARGREAVES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4378, 15 February 1922, Page 2

THE DEATH OF THOMAS HARGREAVES.

THE INQUEST. VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DROWNING. The inquest touching the death of Thomas Hargreaves was opened at the- County Chambers this morning, before the District Coroner, Mr W. M. Wallnutt. Mr J. L. Hanna represented the Northern S.S. Co., Ltd., Mr C. N. O’Neill for the widow, and Sergt. O’Grady the Police. Ivan Kennedy, farmer, residing at Thames Road, said he had identified the body in the morgue as that of Thomas Hargreaves, who resided oh Thames Road, Paeroa. Deceased was employed by the Northern SS. Company as tillerman on the barge running between Paeroa and Te Aroha. He was in the best of health, and had been working about a fortnight. John Daly, police constable on temporary duty at. Paeroa, said that oh the 13th he received word of. the drowning accident at .Mangaiti. He immediately went to the river, but could find no trace of the body. On the following morning he started dragging operations, and the body was recovered at 1.15 p m. z The body was in the middle of the river, about ten yards on the north side of the bridge. The body was brought to the iPaeroa morgue. It had slight marks 'on the forehead which, he were caused by the hooks of the drag. Dr. W. W. Little -said that he, had made a post-anortem examination. The body was that of a well-nourished man of 40 years. There were a number of abrasions on the left side of the face, probably caused by the drags. There were no marks on the body on head of any kind. The heart and arteries were quite healthy. The lungs were congested, and there was a small hemorrhage at the base. There was a good deal of frothy blood-stained fluid on one section of the lungs. There were no signs of fractured ribs. All the organs in the abdomen were slightly congested, but otherwise healthy. The brain ifras healthy and n'drmal. He considered death due to asphyxia, due to drowning. The was no water in the stomach, and very little in the lungs, which indicated?, that deceased was apparently suffering from, shock from soipe blow or injury. A blow across the abdomen would possibly cause a semi-conscious state. Alex McDonald, of the s.s. Rotokohu, trading between Paeroa and Te Aroha. said that they, left Paeroa on the 13th at 8.30 a.m. The engineer was Richard Harnett, and Thomas Hargreaves had charge of the barge. The barge was steered by a tiller Bft long, and there was sufficient room on ;the barge to allow for the tillei to swing to its full extent on either side. Ther.e were two chains towed behind the barge as draggers to steady the barge. After getting through with the launch he heard a crash, caused by the barge hitting the piles, and looking back saw deceased struggling in the water. Dei ceased was striking out for the pile, but witness did not see him get there. He next saw deceased drifting down about 10 yards below the bridge, where he disappeared below water, avd did not come up again. The deceased was employed for 13 days with the company in change of the barge. Deceased’s instructions were to foil low the steamer as near as possible, add if he saw any danger to leave the, tiller and run forward. He was tty steer the barge round the corner, and under certain circumstances was instructed to steer against the pull of the steamer on tfie bargei so as to pull her out of the bend. When the barge crashed the tendency would be for the rudder to swing the tiller, , R. T. Harnett, marine engineer for the Northern S S. Company, said that He. was in the enginero'dm when they passed'under the bridge. He felt a strain, on the engine and came on deck. ' After the steamer stopped he saw deceased in the water, and later saw him 14 feet ,on the north side of the pile. By the barge striking the pile the tiller would swing round. He dived overboard', but deceased had disappeared. He then sent, for the police. Hargreaves was a sober man. Witness did not think he touched liquor. .To the Coroner: Tlie b'o at carried three life-belts and life-buoys. He confirmed the evidence of Captain McDonald about the instructions with reference to the tiller. The '.Coroner returned a verdict of accidental drowning. ,