WAITING UNHEEDED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 273, 30 August 1933, Page 3

WAITING UNHEEDED

DEATH OF TWO GIRLS. FALL OVER CLIFF. ((Special to the " Guardian.") HASTINGS, August 29. That tlie two guts died from injuries received through accidentally tailing down a- cliff was the verdict returned by the jury at the conclusion ot the inquest into the deaths of Esma Elora Hunter and Gertrude Jean Hart, who were killed at Puketitiri last weeic. Joyce Kathleen Hunter, aged eight years, sister of one oi tne deceased, said that on Wednesday morning tne two little victims and herself left their uncle's home to go to the river, about two miles .away. They all walked together and were looking for a track to-go down toward the river. Gertie and Esma each found the track and witness followed Gertie, who slipped in some loose shingle and went out of sight. Witness went to Esma and told her. Gertie had disappeared, and Esma went to where Gertie had slipped. Witness did not see Esma slip. When they did not come back witness told her elder cousin and later her uncle. Ethel Irene English, cousin of the little gir]s, said the children wanted to go out and play, and she told them they must not go beyond the hay paddock, which .is beside the house. The little girl Joyce some time later told her Gertie and Esma had disappeared, and witness went back with Joyce to the spur she had pointed out. Witness climbed down into the river, but could not see the children, so she returned home and informed her father.

Edward Herbert English, manager of the Papaututu station, said that he searched the cliffs, but found no trace of the girls, so he went down to the river, and, after a long search, found them lying at the foot of the cliff". Both were dead. He had always warned the girls never to leave the house without someone being with them. The jury then returned its verdict.