OPUNAKE FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1916, Page 8

OPUNAKE FATALITY.

DEATH OF MR. DOBBIE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) b One of Opunake's oldest residents, Mr. i George Dobbic, was found dead at the e bottom of the sea cliffs (known as "The . Crescent"), on Saturday morning. Dell ceased had been o resident here for ; some 34 years, and in his younger days „ was a master builder. h An inquest relative to the cause of

the death was held before Mr. G. W. Rogers, J.P., and a jury in the Courthouse on Sunday morning. Evidence was given by Mary Dudley (aged eight), as to finding the body when she was looking for a cow, and she reported it to her parents. A. Tulloch deposed to leaving deceased the night previous at a quarter to eleven on Lagud Street, about' 150 yards from deceased's residence. His opinion was that deceased mistook the s.s. Arapawa's 'light for that of his neighbor, and followed it to the cliff. It was a dark night and deceased had poor sight at night, Constable Cloustins' evidence was that he saw deceased at 10.30 on Friday night, and deceased was then in his usual state of health. When he saw deceased lying at the foot of the eliff he examined the body and saw no signs or indications that deceased met his death by foul play. , The jury returned a verdict that deceased had mistaken the road, and accidentally walked over the cliff.