Inquest on Victim Of Lake Tragedy

Lake County Mail, Issue 44, 7 April 1948, Page 2

Inquest on Victim Of Lake Tragedy

“ That James Albert Thwaites was accidently drowned in Lake Wakatipu on November 4, 1947, when a launch owned by John Brown Hamilton, jnr., on which he was a passenger, sunk while being towed by the launch Muratai, controlled by Mr H. Tomkies, Queenston ” was the verdict given by the coroner, Mr J. W. Miller, in an inquest held last Wednesday. The inquest was ordered by the at-torney-general because of the fact that the body cannot be recovered. In evidence, John Brown Hamilton, jnr., said that accompanied by Ross Gray and deceased, he departed in his launch at about 4.30 on the day of the accident, en route to Glenorchy. The decision to go to Glenorchy was not made until they had cruised about the inner harbour at Queenstown for a while. On reaching rougher water in the vicinity of Rat Point, water, on occasions, entered into the engine compartment. Soon after, the engine stopped and a petrol fault was found to be the cause. After temporary repairs had been made, it was decided to make for the beach in the vicinity of Mount Creighton to effect complete repairs, but when en route the launch Muratai was observed travelling towards Queenstown. Mr H. Tomkies, proprietor of the Muratai said that he consented to tow Hamilton’s launch to Queenstown and a rope was affixed to both launches. The Muratai travelled at a reduced speed. After he had travelled for about two miles he heard Mr Jack Stone, who was on the rear upper deck call out to stop. Mr Stone, also a launch proprietor, said that he observed Hamilton’s launch turn sideways across the backwash and water poured in via an open hatch. He called to Mr Tomkies to stop. Hamilton’s launch sunk in a matter of seconds. He first observed Thwaites some 30 to 40 yards away. He threw a life buoy to a point where Hamilton and Gray jumped into the lake. Both men were assisted onto the Muratai with difficulty and deceased was observed swimming over-arm towards them. When the launch was making towards Thwaites he disappeared and was not seen again. The Muratai circled the area for some time but the body did not reappear. Both Mr Tomkies and Mr Stone said in evidence that they considered that Hamilton’s launch was not suitable for Lake Wakatipu. It was a narrowgutted launch with very little free board and was fitted with an engine far too heavy for the particular type of boat. Constable Dougherty said that the lake was estimated to be about 1000 to 1200 feet deep at the place of the accident.