DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 253, 24 March 1914, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS

TARIKI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ■ No one occupying a public position, however humble, can expect to escape the criticism of those he is serving, and though he may strive his utmost to merit their approbation, often abuse instead of praise is his portion. Generally speaking, the verdict of the coroner at the inquest of the late sad fatality here has been met with satisfaction on the part of the public, especially when the fact that the mother of the deceased had said she in no way held the committee responsible was taken into consideration. There are some, however, who instead of following the charitable example of those ■who have suffered most, have not hesitated to say very hard and unjust things about the committee or to proclaim loudly what in their opinion Bhould be done with the members of it. Both the coroner and Sergeant Haddrell visited the scene of • the accident and made a. thorough examination of the premises. Under these circumstances, no one with any knowledge of the character and reputation ot the coroner can doubt for an instant his ability, after hearing the evidence, to arrive at a just and unbiassed decision on such a matter, and his finding that .Tames had met his death through accidental shooting, no negligence being attachable to the committee, will be accepted by all right-thinking persons. Some of the severest condemnations levelled at the committee have emanated from those who have seldom, if ever, taken an active part in public affairs, and it would be well if such people would consider that had they come forward and served on the show committee they might, by their additional knowledge and forethought, have been the means of averting this sad tragedy. "We are all very wise afterwards," was a remark made by the coroner during the inquest, and let those who have so freely censured the committee ask themselves if they are quite certain that had they been on the committee this sad accident would never have happened.