FLOOD VICTIMS

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1920, Page 5

FLOOD VICTIMS

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST MATTHEWS'S EFFORTS TO. SAVE CHILDREN. " . (BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION) ; AUCKLAND, This Day. At the. inquest on the victims- of the Paparoa flood, John Matthews, a. labourer, in the employ of the Public Works Department, deposed to the death of Ill's wife and three children—Winnie (aged 12 .years), Doris (9), Helen (3). Describing his experiences Matthews said he swam with the youngest child to the bank of the flood waters, which had risen to the top wire of the fences. Ho lost some time in getting over the fences. On returning to the house the fences were quite under water. His wife handed, the baby to him out of the window. He carried it to- the bank. By, this time the .stream was very strong, and Matthews had to go two chains up tho bank, and from thore swim down to the house. Owingl to the strength of the. current he missed the first corner of the dwelling. He managed to catch, the other corner as he swept along, and worked his way round the house. There he found the water half-way up the window. As his wife was in a. fainting condition, lio had to get into the room where she was, in order to help her, and thus lost more time. About ten minutes after he and his wife and four children had reached the roof the house was washed away, and all were thrown intothe river. He held the child nearest to him, Ada, and he thought Winnie caught hold of him. He sank nnd on coming to the surface managed ' to swim to the bank with Ada. Winnie -was then floating on the water out of his reach.

One witness deposed that the deceased' man, ■ William Pearce, was 60 years-of age, and came from Brighton (England). For sis or seven years prior to going to Paparoa he worked at Kaukapakapa as a, gum-digger. ' He was last seen swimmin£r downstream towards the embankment. The Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased were drowned, consequent cm the flood that swept the valley, which was caused by excessive rain.