Sad Case of Drowing at Oraki.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1712, 19 May 1886, Page 2

Sad Case of Drowing at Otaki.

[Foxton Paper.] On Monday, intimation was forwarded to Mr Thynne, coroner, that his services were required at Otaki, to hold an inquest into the death of Mrs Sheath, who was found drowned in the Otaki River. The deceased lady, who was a sister of MiM. Carkeek and Mrs J. T. Stewart, had recently shown signs of ill health, and was staying with her brother in the hope of receiving benefit from the change. The deceased lady, whose husband is postmaster at Tauranga, was of middle age, and her untimely end, under such peculiarly painful circumstances, will cause a feeling of sympathy for her relatives in their sad bereavement. On Tuesday the inquest was held at Otaki. The principal evidence showed that the deceased went out, on Sunday afternoon for a walk, and rain coming on, Mr Carkeek went to find her. He tracked her to a ford of back water, then in flood. He searched till midnight, and reluctantly concluded she must have been drowned. A Maori named Knife found the body in the middle of the river on Monday. Mr Carkeek is sure it was a pure accident. A verdict of " Accidentally Drowned in the Otaki River on Sunday night," was returned.