ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 134, 24 October 1912, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

A DROWNING FATALITY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christehurcli, Last Night. At Coalgate yesterday the district coroner conducted an inquest touching the death of John Allinson. Joseph Taylor stated that he and deceased were laborers employed at Mount Algidus Station. On Saturday hist deceased and witness left the station on horseback about six o'clock in the morning to come down to Christehurcli. At the Wilberforce river they looked for the ford, and came to a place where there were horse tracks. Deceased suggested that they should cross there, but witness demurred, as he believed it would be too dangerous. Deceased said, "We'll chance it," and went' into the river. Before he had gone far both he and his horse had disappeared. Deceased stuck to the horse for fifty or sixty yards, and. was then washed down the stream. Where the accident happened the Wilberforce runs very fast. Witness could do nothing to help deceased, who was wearing a heavy overcoat. W. Logan, station manager, gave evidence as to the finding of the body in the Rakaia, seven miles from where it went in. The Wilberforce was a dangerous river, and at the point where -deceased tried to cross was particularly so. A verdict was returned that deceased was accidentally drowned.