G. TAINUI’S DEATH

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1929, Page 5

G. TAINUI’S DEATH

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. (Our Own Correspondent). HOKITIKA/December 5. Au inquest was held yesterday afternoon before Mr D. J. Evans, Coroner, concerning the death of George Henry Tainui. James Alex. Murdoch, solicitor, residing in Hokitika, said: I was in deceased’s company at the mouth of the Arahura River last evening. We intended to trawl for flounders. Decbased stripped and swam partly across the river and the string that he was taking for hauling the net broke. He returned and came out of watpr 'Flip, -nrontTi nr wa s fin A.

After about ten minutes he tried to swim over the river .with the net and got three parts of the way over. The net was too heavy for him so he let it go and swam to the other side. It was about 30 yards he had to swim—not a long swim for deceased, who was an expert swimmer. He frequently swam in the same locality. His brother Tuhuru, then pulled in the net to the south side and folded it up. Deceased stayed on the other side about ten minutes, and one of his brothers called out to him to go around the old traffic bridge where the water was shallow. The tide was coming in. The water was dark like creek water. He laughed. Tuhuru then walked away with the net, giving up the idea of trawling there. I walked towards the beach where we trawl for flounders. Deceased then entered the water to swim back. I heard little Hector Tainui (10 years) call out in alarm, and looking back I saw George Tainui disappear sudden-

ly. My impression, is that he took cramp. I did not hear any call. Isaiah Tainui, another brother, plunged into the water, but was unable to reach deceased. Tuhuru Tainui returned and with the assistance of his brother Isaiah, Mr Parry and myself, attempted to recover George with a net. Tuhuru got into difficulties when he was past where his brother sank. He had to cross to the other side as it was nearest. We were unable to net the deceased. We made several attempts to do so and about half an hour afterwards we rang for the police. Sergeant King and Constable Dougherty arrived quickly on the scene. We remained working with the grapple till 10 o’clock. After that Mr Muir and his sons brought a much larger net and made several attempts to recover the body but without .avail. About 11 o’clock the tide had advanced so much that it was useless to make further attempts to recover the body. At the request of Isaiah I went to the Pa and broke the news to his mother. Both Isaiah and Tuhuru Tainui did all that was possible to save the deceased and both at times were in difficulties in so doing. He was in his usual health. I did not consider that there was any danger in him swimming across the river. I had seen him swim theiriver before.

Horace Tippet Parry, Factory Manager, residing at Hokitika said: I was in company with deceased at the Arahura Pa. We crossed the river and. with Mr Murdoch and Hector Tainui went to the mouth of the river. Witness corroborated the evidence of Mr Murdoch respecting the actions of deceased and the attempts at rescue by his brother Isaiah who did so with his clothes on. Witness added: 1 called out as loud as 1 could for assistance. When the boy brought the net and the other brothel’ swam out, but could not find deceased. I threw in a few saplings and made for the hotel for assistance. I was unable to get ropes or any gear so I drove my car speedily to the police station , Hokitika, where I picked up Sergeant King and Constable Dougherty, who were ready to go with the gear. We hurried, babk to the scene and dragging operations were commenced immediately. I remained for about an hour helping. The body was not then recovered. I, with Mr Murdoch, went to Tainui’s house where the news was broken to his mother. I consider the two brothers made every effort possible to save their brother repeatedly going into the water but without avail. Both are strong swimmers. ' Tuhuru Tainui, brother of deceased, also gave evidence, stating his brother was 40 years of age, and a widower, residing with his mother at Arahura. “I last saw him alive about 7.30 last evening. He was then standing on the north side of the Arahura River naked. I was one of the party who went down to fish.” Witness was about 600 or 700 yards away when the boy Hector called out that deceased was in trouble. Witness said: “I ran back taking off my clothes as I went. I jumped into the watei’ and swam around trying to find him. There were places I could walk in and others I couldn’t. I could not find him and I did not see my brother go down, but went in where I had last seen him. The body was found about 20 feet above where I went in. This morning I with others, made a further search, and I found the body in about 8 or 10 feet of water. The water was clearer than the night before. We tried the net this morning, but without success. Later the body was recovered. All those present did their best to find the body.” Sergeant King gave evidence as to receiving notice of the accident, and proceeding to the scene and the subsequent work of searching for George Henry Tainui, and the finding of the body this morning before 8 o’clock. He examined the body, which had the appearance of drowning. The Coroner returned a verdict of death by accidental drowning. He commended the efforts of the brothers Tainui in endeavouring, to save the deceased. The Coroner also expressed sympathy with the family, particularly with the aged motherDeceased, who was a widower left two children —girl and boy—ls and 13 years respectively.