DEATH OF A BANK INSPECTOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 103, 24 January 1908, Page 4

DEATH OF A BANK INSPECTOR.

Mil. H. K. BET I) 1 UN li DROWNED. (a I TEI.EGIUI'H—SPECIAL COEHESFO.VDMT.) Chrislohuroh, January 23. About- a qiiartrr past tiimi o'clock this morning, while the Union Company's steamer Monowai was on her way from Wellington to liytt.elton, Mr. Hector .Kenneth Uethunc, Inspector of the Bank of Australasia, was drowned. Mr. JJetrimie, who resided in Wellington, was about GO years of ape. He. left his cabin at an earlv houv this morning and went to the "boot?" and got a tlrink of water. Ho then went tin dcc.k. The "boots" -liad occasion to go ont ob deck shortly afterwards, and saw Mr. licthilne limiting over, the vessel's vail. Ho nnnif a rush to get hold of him. but Mr. Bethujio disappeared into tho sea before lie could reach him. The alarm was immediately given, but although a search was made and a sharp lookout kept, no trace of the, unfortunate passenger was seen. The. morning, was very dark, and there was a thick smoke, haze over the water. Mr. lielhune was veyy- well known and limc.h respected in banking circles throughout New Zealand, having been in the employ of the 15,111 k of Australasia for nearly forty years. He was 'accountant of the. Christeluireh branch about 1880, anil then became Sub-Inspector fyr New -Zealand, afterwards manager of the Wellington branch, ami then Inspector for the Dominion. He leaves a widow but no children. '