THE FOXTON TRAGEDY.

Shannon News, 1 September 1925, Page 2

THE FOXTON TRAGEDY.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST

The inquest into the circumstances suroumding the death of Thomas and Dulcie Staff, two of the victims of Saturday's drowning fatality, whose bodies were recovered on Sunday, was held in the Foxton Courthouse, before Mr Alt Fraser, Coroner. William Staff, tailor, of Wellington, brother of deceased Thomas Staff gave evidence as to having identified the bodies of his brother and niece. His brother was a carpenter and farmer residing in Norbiton Road, Foxton prior to the tragedy. Deceased was a married man, aged 39 vears. Dulcie Elizabeth Staff was deceased daughter, aged 19 years There were seven children in his brother's family. Witness last saw his brother alive three months ago in Wellington. Deceased did not have a practical knowledge of boating, but had done a considerable amount on the Manawatu River as a young man. A week ago last Sunday Walter Staff visited witness in Wellington and told him that his father was building a. flat-bottomed boat. Witness advised the boy strongly to see that a centre board was put in the boat, but he did not know whether this had been done or not Walter was one of the party that met with the disaster. As a result of being advised of the accident last Sunday morning witness came to Foxton. His brother and the boys were able to swim a little. The eldest girl could swim also, but not the younger. Charles Martin Dawson, fisherman, residing at the Manawatu Heads, in evidence stated that on Saturday afternoon last he was m his boat on the river about a mile above the bar, between 4.30 and j p m when he noticed a boat containing five people approaching him, the party comprising a man, two youths and two girls. The boat passed within two chains of witness s boat, but witness did not recognise the party. The father stopped rowing prior to (passing witness, the two boys then being at the oars. When the father gave up the oars he sat in the stem of the boat with one of the girls, the other girl being seated in the bow. Witness's attention was attracted to the boat when a quarter of a mile away by the fact that it was travelling at a terrible rate. After the boys commenced rowing the pace slackened off until witness was passed when the pace was again increased. Witness called •out "You are not going over the bar are you?" to which Mr Staff replied: "No, I don't know anything about that caper." Deceased also asked witness if there was any whitebait about, anjd informed witness that there was none about up the river. The partv then hurried off in the direction "of the heads and witness did not see them again. There was a very high tide that day and the biggest run out witness had known for "months. High water was about 11 o'clock. Later that evening witness heard of the disaster and accompanied by other witness made a. search of the south beach and found a sail, rudder, four paddles, and mast. After Constable Owen had given evidence of the finding of the bod- : ies, the inquest was adjourned until September 7th.