FATAL SCALDING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 277, 18 July 1932, Page 3

FATAL SCALDING

whaka inquest PROCEEDINGS ADJOURNED TO SECURE FURTHER INFORMATION. EVIDENCE OF COMPANIONS. The adjourned inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Edward-Roy Baxter, who fell into a boiling pool at Whakarewarewa on the night of Saturday, July 2, was further adjourned by Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., on Saturday morning for the purpose of making further .investigations into the delay between the stated time of the accident and the advission of the: deceased to the King George V Hospital. The "first witness ealled was Cyril Smith, who -said that, with deceased. he picked up four girls and went to the-dance at Whaka on the night of July 2. With Ngatapiri Tonihi and deceased they went to order supper. Baxter went back to get the girls and shortly af terward they heard a scream. He followed Tonihi out of the room and later assisted to drag the mah out. He did not see the man's face during the rescue and did not know it was Baxter until they were in the car going to the hospital, when deceased said "Stick to me, Cyril." He was of opinion that deceased stumbled over a water pipe and rolled into the hole. First On Scene. Ngatapiri Tonihi, a native, deposed that before the dance concluded he went with Cyril. Smith and deceased to order supper. ' When this was ready deceased went to get the girls at the big meetinghouse. Immediately after he heard Maoris crying out that some one had fallen in the pool. He rushed out and heard groans at the left hand side of the building, and found deceased lying on his back in the pool. H© wenf'to pull deceased out, with with the help ( of others got him clear. On Sunday j morning he noticed that a water pipe j had been shifted about six inches out of plac* and looked as if it had been struclc. Baxter was quite sober. The pool was only eight or nine feet from the door of the building. There was no railing for protection. There j was, however, a light over the door An appeal had been made to the Tourist' Department and Rotorua Borough Council to have the pool fenced. To trip over the water pipe deceased must have gone off the track. The accident occurred at about 11.15. While waiting for the ambulance he attempted to take off some of Baxter's clothes. Dr. B. G. Thompson said that deceased was delirious when admitted to the hospital shortly after 1 a.m. He was suffering from severe shock and the greater part of his superficial skin was denuded. He at no timo gave any explanation of how he fell into the pool.. He (witness) did ' not think that any delay in bring1 ing deceased to the hospital would I have prevented his death. 1 | Reason For Delay. , To try and clear up about the delay in the admission of deceased to j hospital, Mr. Paterson reealled Cyril j Smith, who explained that it took | some time for them to get Baxter, | who was a big man, out of the pool ! and up the bank. As soon as this was accomplished he rang Dr. Wallis j who agreed to send the ambulance ' and notify the hospital. The ambu- : lance was a long time coming and , they decided to take a private car. j They had to travel slowly on account ; of Baxter's condition, but they pass- ! ed no ambulance on the way. He | kn-ew of no desire in Whaka to suppress news of the accident. The hearing was then adjourned until this morning at 10.30.