DRINK AND DROWNING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 196, 17 February 1914, Page 5

DRINK AND DROWNING.

END OF A ROADMAN'S HOLIDAY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night. Extraordinary evidence was given at the inquest to-day touching the death of a roadman named Bert Jones, who was drowned in the river at Kaiwhaiki on Tuesday last. Timothy Hogan stated that deceased and he, who were engaged road-making, walked to the Upokongaro Hotel, where they stayed till noon. They had four or live "long beers," and they took away with them three bottles of beer and one. bottle' of whiskey, some of which they drank on the way back to their camp. They reached a point on the river opposite to the camp about 4.45 p.m., and called for a canoe. A boy brought one across, but witness refused to enter it, thinking the craft was unsafe. Jones, however, went in the canoe, which lie rocked till it capsized. The boy swam ashore to get assistance for Jones, who was getting on the bottom of the upturned canoe, but wheM he returned Jones had sunk. A police constable said that he had made inquiries at the hotel, and was satisfied that the men were sober when they left there. A half-filled bottle of whisky was found on the body.

The coroner returned a verdict that the deceased wan accidentally drowned through his own recklessness, while under the influence of drink.