MOTUEKA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 208, 1 October 1878, Page 4

MOTUEKA.

[From our own Correspondent.] An inquest wna hold to-day before O Parker, Esq., J.P., Acting Coroner, and a jury, of which Mr C. Mncfarlane \va3?foreman, on the body of Frank Akersten who was drowned afc the Moutere on the 24th September. Tbe following was the evidence:—Aupustns James Hawley : I am a seaman. I identify the body now lying on the premises at the Retreat Inn as that of Frank Akersteh. On Tuesday night last at nbout seven we were running an anchor out. It was blowing hard from the westward. We wore lying at the western entrance of the Mont ere taking in ballast, and we had finished for the night and were hauling the ketch off. As Akersten was heaving the kedge overboard the fluke caught in the stern of the dingy and took her down stern first. I could see distinctly. I was on board the vessel. When the bont went down I saw Akersten rise to the surface and threw a life buoy and a sweep overboard. The boat came up again, but he did uot reach it, nor the life buoy nor sweep, as there was a strong tide running. The vessel drifted high and dry at the bluffs. I could not heave up the anchor tor could I make sail on her as I had not enough ballast and had no boat to leave the vessel. At low title the next morning I waded ashore up to my middle and went to Mr Brougham's house. I then came up to Motueka and told what had occurred to Constable TJoyes. I have known the deceased about 7or S months. This was the second trip we had made together from Nelson. He could not swim and made no attempt to do so.— By the Foreman: It was blowing very hard and there was a heavy sea on at the time. The anchor was about 50lbs weight. The dingy was a very small one and one man could handle her. The usual way of carrying the kedge is to have the flukes outside the stern with the stock inside, but the kedge on this occasion was altogether in the boat. — Thomas Eoyes, district constable:— l first heard of the death of Frank Akersten on the 25th September at about 4 p.m. from the last witness, Augustus James Hawley. I then telegraphed to the Inspector of Poiice, Nelson, and also informed Constable Benseman, of the Moutere, who found the body.— Henry BGnsoman, district constable, Moutere : I received a note from Mr Boyes yesterday at 12 noon stating that a person was drowned at the Lower Moutere. I started off at once for the Waimea entrance and searched all the way along until I found the body lying on the shingle under the Moutere bluffs, about 10ft below high water mark at a quarter! past five p.m. I dragged the body up about a chain so that there was no danger of its being washed out to sea again. It is the same body now lying on these premises. I examiued the body in the presence of Mr Bullard, and all that I found were a tobacco pouch and a knife. He was lying in the same position as now, his trowsers seemed to have slipped down a little. It was a shingle beach where I found the body, and about a mile from where the vessel is lying. — The verdict was to the effect that the said Frank Akersten on thu 24th of September, 1878, being iv a certain boat on a certain piece of water at the westernlentrauce of the Moutere river, it happened that the boat was upset by the fluke of the anchor deceased was endeavoring to heave out of the boat catching in the stern and causing the said boat to sink, whereby the said Frank Akersten was thrown into the water and then and there casually and accidentally drowned whereby he then and there instantly died. And so the said jurors aforesaid on their oath do say that the said Frank Akersten by the means aforesaid accidentally and by misfortune came to his death and not otherwise. Neither of the young men in the vessel couid swim. It is a pity that swimming should not be Rmong the requirements of those who are candidates for a seafaring life, as it is easily acquired, and ought to be a sine qua non for a sailor. It has been suggested that Mr Hursthouse's speech on the Land Tax Bill should appear in your columns, and a request to you is to be made to that effect, as it would be only a proper recognition of local talent. The Motueka Choral Society intend giving a concert on the 9th of October. We have had very rough weather here lately but not to the extent of blowing down a church as in Canterbury, or a railway shed (as we have not one to be blown down.) Are we *ver likely to haveoue? There were no less than seven vessels in sight at once from the wharf to-day, rather unusual for neglected Motueka. Our enterprising mail contractor, Mr Chalmers, having an overplus of passengers this morning obligingly put on au extra vehicle for the occasion rather than disappoint bis would-be passengers. This should he remembered when the tenders for the mail contracts are opened. It is a pity that the road is not opened up to Takaka, so that the overland mail service might be extended tbere, also the telegraph line. The remains of poor young Akersten will be taken over to-night by Mr Bullard's vessel. Constable Beusemann deserres great praise for his prompt and intelligent action in the search for the body of the unfortunate young man. Motueka, Sept. 27, 1878.