THE LATE DROWNING CASE AT ORAKAU.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1621, 23 November 1882, Page 3

THE LATE DROWNING CASE AT ORAKAU.

Tub inquest on the body of the unfoi tunate nun, Iteorge Savage, who was drowned in the I'uiiiu river on the ,Ith hist., was hold at Kihikihi on Monday lust bcfoic Mr Thomas Uresham, coroner, and a jury of twelve, ot which Mi" Nicholson was chosen foreman. Tlic evidence went to show that on the 3th hist, deceased was at a native settlement called Araikotore, and was seen on the same evening about two miles fiom, and going in the diicution of the l'uniu liver. To leach Orakau he would have to take a dangerous crossing in the river. On the following morning his horse, saddle, and bridle were found, and the body was lecoveicd, as before stated, at a distance of about 20 chains from the crossing. Thcie wcie no marks of violence on the body when found, and the jury leturncd a votdict to the effect that deatli resulted from drowning. The deceased was a labourer, about 24 years of age, and was a native of Helsby, Cheshire, where his father resides. The inquest has satisfactoi ily removed the painful suspicions of foul play created by the lad Waul. The following was the evidence taken at the inquest :—: — William Blnnden, M.15., of Te Awamutu, deposed, I have minutely examined the body that has just been viewed. I consider it is that of a European. The body must have been in the water for over ten days. I found no signs of violence on the body. The bones are perfect. The body is in an advanced state of decomposition. The features are past recognition in consequence of the decomposition. I have no reason to believe that deceased came to his deatli in any other way than by drowning. John Cm-ley, farm labourer at Mr Toles, Ngamoko, deposed :— On Sunday, otli November, inst., I last saw deceased, George Savage, . alive. He left me at ten minutes past six o'clock in the morning. He told me lie was going to make enquiries about a horse that he had sold to John Davis, a quarter-caste. The horse was at a native settlement (Arikotera). Deceased went away on hotsebaek. He told me Davis had got into trouble in Aluxandra, and had been sent to gaol for a month, and if deceased did not get the horse ; the natives would keep him. I advised him not to go that day, dfj there had beeu heavy wind ' and rain the night before. I heard' from Savage that the native to whom the horse belonged wanted to get it back "agam." T knew Ifch'at' deceased woulil liave to ctpss the Puniu River. I never saw deceased agaiu alive., I , have seen the body to-day. The clothing on the body^ (booty apui^jwl olofcbing) ave.plwUar to'

what deceased ha'd^on^fiim. Deceased was a man of very temperate habits. The viver would rise very suddenly. It might rise several feet in a night. On the Monday evening at 7 I ! went to the Puniu River, which was then high. I found the horse and saddle which deceased had been riding. The horse had been in the water, 'the lining of the saddle was wet. There was no bridle when I found the horse. Thomas Baker, of Kihikihi, being duly sworn, acted as Maori interpreter. Rangi Tuafcea, an aboriginal native, residing at Puniu, said— l have seen George Savage when alive, I found his body this day. The body was in the river Puniu, opposite Martin's property. The face was downwards. The back was out of the water. The face was in the sand of the river. Piripi Pnngarelm, an aboriginal native residing at Tokanui, said — I knew George Savage well. I last saw him on pakeha Sunday. At this time lie was coming to Tokanui. It was in the afternoon. He (Savage) asked me if I had seen a strange horse. I told him no. Savage was on horseback, and was going in the direction of the Puniu, but lie was at this time on M-aoii territory. I saw a Maori following him. That was Kari. This was about a mile and a-half. Savage was a mile and a-half from the Puniu River. The river was then at a very big flood. It was dangerous for any person to cross who could not swim, and even if lie could swim it was not safe. After I had seen Savage I crossed the river just as the sun was going down. I crossed at Martin's crossing. That crossing is about three-quarters of a mile from Pukekura's crossing. I don't know where Kari is. I last saw him at Kihikihi two or three days ago. It might be safe to cross at Martin's crossing, but unsafe to cross at Pukekura's crossing. Kari usually lives at Pukekura's settlement. When I saw Kari on the evening of the sth November he was going to his home at Pukekura's place. Kaii is the son of the woman with whom Davis cohabited. Kaii told me on this occasion that he was coming from Arakatcra. I have never spoken to Kari about the missing man. I only met Kaii. He was on horseback, riding a white horse. I did not notice if he was going fast. Ho had a stockwhip in his hand. There were four other natives with me when I saw Kari. They were Kangiauiu, Jlauraha, Rangi to Kauwhata, and Wharau. I don't know where Pakeknra was that evening. 1 have lived at Tokanui since the war. I never lived at Ka^hia. I had not previously seen the deceased that day. Constable Robeit James Gillies, A.C. Force, stationed atTc Awnnuttu, said : I received information to day by wire that deceased was found in the river Puniu. I went to the river with several settlers. I saw the body in the river. The feet, hands, and face wore in the water, and the face was. downwards. I searched the body after I removed it to Kihikihi. I could find no marks of violence of any description. I found two shillings and twopence in deceased pocket in silver and copper, also a memorandum book, pipe, match-box, and some tobacco. Deceased had spins on boots, trousers, coat, and a .strap round his waist. Dennis Horrigan, bootmaker, residing at Kihihiki, said ; The boots on the deceased are a pair I made for Savage. The jury under diiection of the coioner, returned the following verdict: — "That the s.iid George Savage, on the 20th day of November, ISS2, was found diowned, and suffocated in the Puniu river, and that the saidGeoige Savage had no mams of violence appealing on his body, but how or by what means the said George Sa\ age became diowned and .suffocated, no evidence did appear to the juiois."