THE OPUNAKE FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1917, Page 2

THE OPUNAKE FATALITY.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. (From Our Own Correspondent). On Saturday morning a picnic parly from Mangatoki of scholars of the public school and parents arrived at the Opunakc beach at about 11.30 a.m. Soon after 12 word caino that a ni'in was drowned. Immediately a number of the townsmen went down and searched the water. Unfortunately those who were in the water at the time lost track of Mara who was in difficulties and disappeared. Thus a good half-hour was lost in searching the tidal waters. The body was found in about three feet of water, approximately in a line where deceased entered the sea. The body was found by R. Macfie, and immediately Constable Coulston, with assistance of many willing onlookers, commenced resuscitating methods, and continued them for two hours until Dr. Milroy arrived and declared unfortunately there was no hope of revival. An inquest was lield in the Cour(honeon Sunday afternoon, before Mr. Geo. W. Rogers, J.P., and the following jury: Messrs. E. Marshall (foreman), G. Bai'rBrown, W. J. S. Dudley and D. Ross. Robert William Lonton, of Hawera, camping at the bay, stated that he followed Marx and Nicholas into the water. After he had gone in some distance he called out that he considered they word going too far as ho felt a severe undertow. Witness and two boys followed him, and he turned and got the boys to go back. When ho reached the wateredge he looked hack and saw Marx and Nicholas had disappeared. He said: "They have gone." Nicholas then appeared and called to witness for help. Witness's wife, who was on the beach, ran down with a life belt, and when he got it Nicholas had got a footing but Marx disappeared. Ho did not see Marx again until his body was recovered. He was of opinion that an expert swimmer could have savwv ?Tiirx, or if a life bolt had been at the cage of the water at the time Marx would have been saved. Charles Thomas Nicholas, of Mangaloki, deposed that he entered the water with deceased, and after he had taken a couple of headers in the water he heard l.iutou shout out something and stood up and tried to hear what Tie said, and on looking ahead saw Marx was in difficulties. Ho went to his assistance and struggled with him, but had to leave him to save himself. The last he heard was deceased saying "I am done, Charlie.'' Witness had some difficulty in getting :isliore himself. Constable Coulston gave evidence as to finding the body ah hour after the accident, and the means taken to resuscitate it. He had seen several instances of means taken to restore animation, but he thought this the best conducted one, all present doing everything possible. ! The jury returned a verdict that debased met his death by drowning and that no blame was attachable to anybody. The jury also conveyed their deepest sympathy to the relatives of ITI4. deceased in their sudden bereavement.