IS SWAN A MENACE?

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 120, 14 February 1941, Page 12

IS SWAN A MENACE?

Suspected Of Causing

Child’s Death

CORONER’S ACTION

(By Telegraph — Press Association.t OAMARU, February 13.

As a result of representations made by the coroner. Mr. A. W. Woodward, .1.P.. the Oamaru Borough Council decided tonight to sei up a eomniittee to investigate allegations Hint a swan in rhe public gardens was a menace. The eomniittee was given power to act. Mr. Woodward wrote that as the outcome ol a tragic oeeui ieiice in lire public gardens some weeks ago when ihe swan was suspected of causing the death of a little child by drowning, though there was no direct evidence to prove it, several articles had appeared in the newspapers giving instances where swans had been the direct cause of the deaths of children and animals. That: this particular swan was a menace to children was confirmed by the statement of a witness at the inquest oil the child referred to and the council should take steps to remove the bird or prevent it from wandering about in localities frequented by children. He bad direct evidence from a local resident, Mr. Woodward stated, that the swan attacked her and tore her stockings, and also hearsay evidence that it bad pecked at a child in a perambulator.