BOY DROWNED

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1924, Page 2

BOY DROWNED

INQUEST AND VERDICT.

(Special to “Star.”)

HOKITIKA, September 11. An enquiry into the death of Archibald King was held before Coroner D. J. Evans, at the Police Station this afternoon . Albert Jeremiah King, father of the deceased, said that his son’s age was 13 years. Witness last saw him alive yesterday morning at 7-30. He missed him. at 5.30 p.m. on coming home from work. He went out 011 the riverbank at 6 o’clock and picked up the boy’s whitebait net, but there was no trace of the boy. He had been in the habit of getting on the breastwork. He was in perfect health. Charles Gutberlet, residing on Gibson Quay, sworn, said that he saw deceased between 4.15 and 4.30 yesterday afternoon on the works at the back of Warren and Heeney’s planing shed. He was then walking along the works with a whitebait net in one hand and a tin in the other. There appeared to be nothing the matter with him. The tide was coming in at the time witness saw him. The water would be over six feet deep where the body was found about . 5 o’clock. It is a dangerous locality for boys fishing. If a boy falls off he has no’ chance of getting out if he is by himself. It is about 10 feet from the works to the bank. The breastwork is in a decayed state and unFrancis Samuel Orr, a molbr proprietor, residing in Hampden Street, said that he was on Gibson Quay last night assisting in searching for deceased in a boat equipped with a strong electric light. He started to search about 11.30. A large number of other people were searching. The tide was then going out. He eventually discovered the body outside the breastwork in the river quite cflose to the piles. The body was fully clothed. He lifted the body into the boat and conveyed it to. land. He saw no marks on the body. Sergeant King said that when it was reported to him that the boy was missing, he secured drags and rope and the river was dragged for a considerable distance without result. He returned later and took up the search. The tide was ebbing and about 12.30 this morning the body was recovered by Mr Orr. There were no marks of aiiy description on the body. There were clear indications that the boy had been drowned. The boy could not swim. The net was found on the grassy bank about half a chain from, the breastwork. , The Coroner returned a.verdict of accidental death by drowning. He said that this was one of those regrettable accidents that occur occasionally; He considered the Harbour Board should be notified’ to have notices put up forbidding people particularly children, from getting on the protection works. He, asked the Sergeant to see this carried out. The means of preventing accidents could be seen often after they occur. He expressed sympathy with the bereaved father and family.