INQUEST.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 27, 26 November 1898, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest was held last evening in the StudhoJine Junction Hdtel touching the death of William Manhire, aged 16, before Mr W. Coltmau, acting-coroner. The following were s\vo,rn as a juvv :— Messrs Ford, Cornelius, Lindon, Clark, Roberts and Saver. Mr Ford was chosen foreman, Win. Wafcely^ sworn, said, he was, ono of the paanageis pf the fjaxuiilU , The, b.ody shown tp the jury yras that of William Manhire. £Ie had turned 16 yeaia, of age, and was e^uplpyed at the flaxiuill.I^ast saw deceased, alive abqu^ 6, o'clock, on the evening ot Thursday the £4ih,inpt. - Believed ho had " relations JUfTug 'at ' , „ / ; . „t , Wdfthy sacter, sworn, , ?aid be, wa^s'l^ years of age in April next." ' jEe;was ? eiu««^ ployed .atthe flaxiuul ' by press abttj Wakeley. Was, at wprkoV,24tlii. ,jWaa,> W& j>yeyiqus;tQ entering" watiev.

' Saw him dive ir. He wa9 in about ft minute. St. v h'm splashing, and q )ing round tlie cornet of the " steeps " an 1 at the 'other cud he caught hold of the 1 steeps and pulled hinaae'f up as far as the neck. Ho then let go. He sank, and that wa* tlie last witness «a\v of him. Was standing on tlie bank, undre'B< j d. Informed I\yo of tlie men at once (Mr All press and Mr Chuko), and they divtd in but could not get any trace of him. Was not preBent when the body was recovered. Ne\\er heard him say he conk] swim. Deceased said drring tho dny ho was going io have a wash after tea. He did not call out while in the water. Witness was an indifferent swimmer. To the foreman : Was sure deceased did not slip in. Witness was going to bathe in the same place. To the coroner : The men he called were about three chains away. To a juryman : Deceased was about 7 yards from the bank when he wont down. Joseph Packer, sworn, sn'd he was 16 years of age. Was employed at the flaxmill. Remembert d Thursday night. Saw deceased dive off the bank and go along under water about two yards. When he got to the end of the steeps he caught hold of them and rose a little out of the water. He then let go .'Hid sank. Saw him no more. Was 'at the other side of the river undressed. When deceased sank witness swam across, but could not sco him. The debris from the mill, tow and gum was thrown into tho river. It would be a hard job (o swim if caught in this. Messrs Clarke and Allpress dived in but they could no trace of him. Mr Clarke bind he felt ■needs at the bottom. Did not see the body recovered. Never heard deceased say at any time that hs could swim. Did not know the depth of tho water, but thought it about iix Uot. Did not dive after deceased. Was not a good swimmer. There was no rope handy, but it would have'been of no use. Deceased was in the water about a minute befor.3 he rose. The men dived for him about two or three minutes after he disappeared. The water was dark. * The bottom could not be seen. To the foreman :, Did not know whether his brother stopped to put on his clothes before informing the men. Did not think Manhire was diowninr, Jas. Fogarty, sworn, siid he was a contractor residing at Hannaton. On Thursday evening, from new? received, ho went to the flaxmill about H o'clock. Assisted in dragging for the body. Mr J. Mao'pherson and two of the ilaxjuill hands had out a boat and they dragged for an hour without success. Witness dragged lor live iniuutcs with a grappling iron and secured the body. As far as wiiuoss know the water was about J5 feet deep at the place. The water was dark anJ also contained refuse from tho mill. Noticed a Rear on the calf of deceased's leg, which witness thought was caused by the grappling iron. Bemo\ed body to boathouse. Herbert Cliftord Barclay, sworn, said he was a duly qualified medical practitioner. Made an 'external examination of the body, which was that of a well-nourished young man of about 17 years of age. There were no marks ou the body to a;• count for death, but the bloodstained itn, n on the mouth, with other appearance*-, indicated death from drowning. Philip F. H. Allpress, sworn, said ha was one of the managers of the flaxuiill at the Waihao. On Thursday evening last a youth in thoir oinploy informed them that Manhire was in the river. He went to, the hank, undressed, and entered the river at the spot indicated by the boys. Cquld find no, traca of the body. Boing unsuccessful ip diving they got the boat and worked from it, This was all he knew about the matter till the body was recovered. Thought there would be about 13^ feet of water. Found a difficulty in getting to the surface, owing to the weeds. Everything possible had, baen do.ne to, sayj the lad< This was all the evidence. The jury fou,nd " That deceased m,at hisdeath accidentally by drowning, no h&laiqß toeing attach -.hie tq anyone,"