THE ACCIDENT AT THE OHIKI.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 428, 14 December 1868, Page 2

THE ACCIDENT AT THE OHIKI.

CORONER'S INQUEST

An inquest was held on Saturday at the Golden Hope Hotel, on the body of a man found on the beach at Westport on Friday, and which proved to be the body of George Aber, who was drowned about a fortnight since at the Ohiki Ferry. John Acheson Carr said he fouud the body on Friday aftei'noon on the North Spit. He was attracted to the spot by a number of dogs barkiug, and saw the body at the back of Mr Johnston's slaughter yards. The body had on a pair of tweed trousers, drawers, a belt round the waist, and watertight boots. It was dry, about ten or twelve yards below high water mark. The lef fc arm and left side were covered with sand.

Detective Bobert Lambert stated that he assisted in removing the body from the beach, and was present when Constable Rooke searched it, and found nothing on it. Dr Thorpe had examined the body. It was that of a middle-aged man. It had been immersed iu water some considerable time, There was nothing inconsistent with the supposition of death by drowning. There were no natural marks on the body by which to identify it. Frederick William Moore, ferryman at the Ohiki : I have seen the body lying here, and recognise it as that of George Aber. I saw him last on Tuesday week, up at the Ohiki ferry. I got up early on that morning to make breakfast. A party of men wanted to go across. I told them that the fresh was too high to go across just then; if they waited an hour or or two it would he less ; but they wanted to go across very badly and pressed me to put them across. I put this man's brother across, and I got across only by a "squeak." When I went back again to the other raau, I advised him not to cross, but he persisted in going over as his brother was on the other side. I missed the landing on the opposite side and bad to drop down the falls so as to get into the junction of the two rivers, where there was dead water. A little water got into the canoe when we were going over the falls, and he got up and put his foot on one side of the boat and took his hat off to bail. He was timid. She was swamped and we both went down the Buller. He had hold of the canoe, and the more he touched her the farther she got from him. The last I saw of him was at the Buller river. He was crying out. I could not get near him. I saw him sink and he did not come up again. I was carried down myself about a mile, when I got ashore on the bank of the Buller. The boat I had was only a canoe. Both our boats had been lost. I used her only for going to the garden on the other side. My partner's name is Michael French. We hold an accommodation license on the condition of keeping a safe boat at the feiry. The canoe was made of remu. She was fifteen feet long by two in width. This accident would not have occurred if we had had another boat. Since we lost the last

boat we were always in hopes of getting means to build a boat. On an average we do not put one man a day across. There is a Government ford above us, where a good many cross. Michael French (Moore's mate) said: I remember the day the accident happened. I was coming to Westport to look after some timber for a boat. I was present very shortly after the occurrence took place. There was a tresh in the river, and it was unsafe to cross with that canoe. It was not fit for the ferry. Ido uot know anything of my own knowledge respecting the death of George Aber. The time between my losing the last boat, and this was about a month. I have lost three boats besides this.

The Coroner said it was for the Jury to say whether they considered the evidence produced satisfactory, or whether they would adjourn until the deceased's brother was present. As to the identity of the body, it was recognised by Moore, and also by some of the Jury themselves. I would be for the Jury to consider whether they should make any remark as to the description of boat kept by the parties at the ferry.

The Jury, after a lapse of a quarter of an hour, returned the following verdict: —" The Jury are of opinion that George Aber came by his death by drowning on the Ist inst. at the Ohiki, and the Jury are of opinion that some blame is attributable to the ferryman for not keeping a proper boat; and further, the Jury think that the authorities should enquire into the circumstances under which free licenses are granted to parties keeping ferries." The following gentlemen were fined for not appearing when called upon to serve as jurors : —James Ranson, ; James Phelps, £2; Edward Cowley, £2. Mr Jno. Munro and Mr Tonks were also called, but subsequently appeared, and gave reasonable excuses for their non-appearance at the proper time.