TUAKAU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 218, 17 October 1916, Page 3

TUAKAU.

THE DROWNING ACCIDENT. The adjourned inquest concerning the recent drowning fatality at the Waikato Heads, the victim of which was Mr Charles Griffiths (Ken) Entwhistle, was resumed at the Waiuku Courthouse on Friday last before Mr W. J. King, District Coroner. Alfred Henry Lapwood, launch proprietor, deposed that after the launch was anchored it dragged the anchor and he went into the engine room and started the engine with a view of removing the boat. On returning Entwhistle was missing. He saw him in the water about one and a-half chains away. He appeared to be walking. Deceased called out " Alf," and witness replied by shouting and pointing to the shore, Witness ran to get a life-buoy, but realised that deceased was being carried out by the current, and started the engine. He got ashore and ran towards the spot at which he last saw deceased, but he had disappeared and was never seen alive again. Janet Entwhistle, wife of deceased (re-called), stated that her husband and she lived happily together. Deceased had no business worries, and was of sober habits. There was beer and a bottle of whiskey on the launch, but the deceased refused to drink tho whiskey and poured part of it in the bottom of tho boat. Deceased was sober when she last saw him on the launch. A verdict was returned that deceased met his death by drowning in the Waikato river and that there was no evidence to show how he got into the water.

With the hall-mark of the Tuakau branch of the Women's Patriotic League the concert and dance held in the Public Hall on Thursday evening last had the sympathy and support of the district, thereby fulfilling the two-fold object for which it was arranged, viz., as a farewell to Messrs D. Dyer, J. Wilson and O. Prince, who have enlisted, and to strengthen the wool fund of the League, the nett proceeds amounting to £6 ss. Items were rendered as follows, viz. -.—Pianoforte duet, Misses F. Dickens and M. Strahan ; duet, pianoforte and violin, Misses M. (Waghty and O. nodgsnn ; pink march and song, " Soldier Boysj" Misses I. and L. Leaman, A. Lewis,

P. Butterworth, D. Deeble and M. Strahan; songs, Messrs T. E. Patterson, J. Byder, F. Byder ; recitations, Miss Patton and Mr J. Fulton; nursery rhymes, by a party of school children; Mrs G. D. Hunter and Miss F. Dickens playing the accompaniments. In his capacity as chairman of the Patriotic League, Mr W. Graham presented each of the "boys" with a parcel of comforts from the Women's League and a wristlet watch on behalf of the Patriotic League. After a dainty supper, at which a large gathering sat down, dancing was indulged in under the direction of Mr C. Deed, with the Misses M. Geraghty M. Mayall and Mr W. H. Northmore as pianists and Miss C. Hodgson as violinist. Private J. Dromgool left for Trentham to-day as a member of the 22nd Reinforcements. During Mr J. C. Quinlan's absence on holiday leave in the Hunterville district Mr B. Martin, of the relieving staff, is acting as postmaster.