THE INQUEST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1668, 30 January 1917, Page 3

THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held before Mr All*. Fraser, District Coroner, yesterday morning,, when the following evidence was taken: —

.Edgar Harrison Edge!iill, llaxmillor, employed at the Whitaunui mill, slated that several of the men, ineluding deceased and himself, went in swimming' at about 11.30 o’clock on Sunday. Witness and. deceased were swimming across the river, When almost across to the opposite side one of the men on (he hank called out that deceased, who was behind witness, had disappeared. Witness went back to the spot, expecting deceased to re-appear, but he did not. The water was somewhat dirty and very deep. He afterwards rang np for the police and doctor, and got a boat and commenced dragging for tlie body. The body was recovered by Constable Woods about 2.30 o’clock. Constable Woods said that about 1 o'clock he received advice that there had been a drowning accident at Whilaunui. On arrival there, in company with Dr iMandl, he found two boats dragging for the body. The drags being used were not suitable, and witness made another one and recovered the body about half an hour later.

The Coroner returned a verdict of accidentally drowned, and added a rider as follows; In my opinion every mill on the river hank should he provided with proper dragging appliances.