INQUEST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 706, 8 January 1910, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest touching the. death of Albert Edward Walker was held before Mr Alf. Fraser, District Coroner, on Thursday afternoon, when the following evidence was taken. George Walsh, ten years of age, residing with his parent!! at the Manawatu Heads, said that he last saw the deceased alive at about half past six on Wednesday evening. Witness tvas paddling in the water and deceased was in a boat about half a chain away, He was pulling on the rope to make the boat go forward aud would then let go of the rope and the waves would carry the boat back again. When witness last saw deceased he was leaning over the boat and pulling on the rope. About a quarter of an hoar later when witness looked around deceased had disappeared, and witness thought he had gone homeLeonard Agustus Smith, fisherman, stated that at about seven o’clock on Wednesday evening " Mrs Walker, mother of deceased, asked him if he had seen the boy as he had not come home for his tea. Witness joined with Mr Senior in searching for the boy by dragging with nets. At about half past nine witness procured an acetylene gas lamp and on returning saw the body lying face downwards in about a foot of water. Witness carried the body into Mr Walker’s house. _ Constable Woods gave evidence to the effect that he received information at about half past nine on Wednesday night that the boy was missing, aud he immediately proceeded to the Beach. Found on arrival the body had been recovered and artificial respiration was being used to bring him to. This continued for about an hour and a half without success. Shortly afterwards Dr. Adams arm ed and pronounced life extinct. The Coroner found that the deceased, Albert Edward Walker, met his death by drowning in the Manawatu River, accidently.