BOATING FATALITY AT HOKIANGA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 249, 20 October 1893, Page 2

BOATING FATALITY AT HOKIANGA.

THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held at Raweno upon tbe body of Sydney Herbert Godden, hotelkeeper, who was found dead on the beach a few days ago. Mr G. A. Clark officiated as coroner. The evidence adduced showed thab deceased and Constable Hogg left Kohukohu for Rawene in aa open boat jusb before dark on the 16th inst. As the weather at the timo was anything but rough, and the tide was running down with them, their destination should have been reached by abort eighb o''clock. They were passed in The Narrows t>y Mr Perkinaon, of tho Piako, when all was well. Godden was pullling, and jokingly asked Perkinson whore he was bound for, what cargo, etc., winding up with a jocular threat bo reporb him for nob carrying side lighbs. This was bhe lasb aeon of them alive. The body of Mr Godden was found ab Motouraka, near Te Raro. A distinct brack is visible from low-water mark to where tho body waß found, but as ib was not discovered till two tides after tho accident, it could nob be decided whether the marks on the mud were the resulb of the body washing up, or whebher Mr Godden Bbiick to the boat until ib grounded, and then endeavoured to crawl up the mud to the shore. The body was found about ono hundred yards from the boab. Mr Godden's face and shins were scratched, presumed to be caused through contact with tho boat after being upset, and from contact wibh tho barnacles on '• the mangroves. The jury returned j tho verdict, "Found dead, bub there' is nob sufficient evidence to prove whether he died from drowning or from boing exhausted from the effects of his immersion, through his boab upsetting between Te Hapunga and Rawene." The indications support the theory that he clung to the boab bill near the shore, and was able to crawl, bub unfortunately succumbed through exhaustion. Constable Hogg's body has not yet been recovered. By a singular coincidence the day of the accidenb was also his birbhday. Hogg leaves a widow and four young children. Mr Godden also leaves a widow, bub no family.