THE LATE CAPTAIN HOLLAND

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 193, 2 August 1911, Page 11

THE LATE CAPTAIN HOLLAND

I INQUEST AT THE PORT

An inquest concerning the drowning of Captain Sievent Holland was held yesterday in the Napier Morgue, before Mr. S. E. McCarthy, S.M. Sergeant Cummings conducted the proceedings for the police and Mr. Humphreys was present on behalf of Richardson and Co. Ashburd Holland, son of the deceased, identified the body as that of his father. Last saw him alive on Wednesday evening about 7 o’clock. His father was in charge of the lighter Moa. Showed no signs of drink that evening. There was every reason for his father to visit the lighter as a heavy sea had been running that week and during the day the moorings might have been losened. There was nothing loosened. He had no occasion to think his father would commit suicide. Had heard that he went to the Ferry Hotel, and also to a dance at Westshore on Wednesday night. Deceased came home about. 11 o'clock, and afterwards went down to the lighter. -His father was 54 years of age.

To Mr. Humphreys: The lighter was moored at the end of the Iron Pot. His father’s duty was to look after the boat at all times. I Andreas Mayland ,a seaman, living at Port Ahuriri, deposed that he knew the deceased and recognised the body as that of Captain I Holland. He last saw him alive bei tween midnight and 1 o’clock of j Wednesday, 26th. He was then in | the forecastle of the Ruru talking

Ito a man named Alfred Seastrain, i Witness came into the forecastle at 11 o’clock and remained with Cap-f-tain Holland and Seastram until 12 ■ o’clock. There was a bottle of i whisky in the forecastle, which

j Seastram appeared to own. Spirits i were seldom kept on the boats, in | fact witness had only seen them ■ once before. They each had a drink i while witness was present. The

! bottle had just been opened. The ! deceased was not nnder the influence of liquor. When deceased had a little drink he was happy and used to sing. He was singing j that night. As deceased was leavI ing the boat, witness asked if he | was going home. He replied “Yes” ! Saw deceased from the deck of Mie i Ruru walking along the wharf in! the direction of the Moa. It was al i very dark night-. Deceased wasj 1 walking steadily. It was custom- j ! ary for the deceased to inspect the j ' Moa, last thing every evening. ! To Mr. Humphrey: Did not re-1 ; member if the sea was calm or not,| j and did not know if the deceased* i went to the Moa. I

Re-examined by Sergeant Cuntmings: Witness assisted in thedragging for the body and was present when it was hooked. It was found a few yards from tha Moa. To the Coroner: There was note much liklihood of the body of adrowned man drifting about. To Mr. Humphreys: The deceased was found about 200 feet from the Ruru. Constable Le Fevre deposed that on Saturday Ashburd Holland called at the Police Station, Port Ahuriri. about 9.30 a.m.. and saidG that, at the request of his mother he desired to report his father was missing. On inquiry wutness found that the deceased reached the Ferry Hotel about 8.30 and was at Westshore until 10.15. Part of tho time he spent at the hotel and pgrt at the hall where a dance was being held. During the whole timo the deceased was at Westshore he only had three drinks. Deceased was passed on the Westshore side of the Petane bridge when he waa perefectly sober. No drink seemed to have been had by deceased, except that mentioned by the previous witness. There was a very strong tide running on Wednesday at midnight and a very heavy swell outside. On Monday about 2 p.m. the crew in the Ruru’s boat picked up the body. The watch had stopped at 1.45. Witness thoroughly examined the body and found a dislocation under the right eyelid, apparently a bruise. There were two small marke behind the left, oar. due probably to the grappling irons. There was a bruise in the left groin. Witness had known the deceased for a year, and knew him to be a very temperat e man. Had never seen him under the influence of liquor.

To Sergeant Cummings : The Moa was not moved until Monday. It was then removed to the opposite side of the Iron Pot. At the corner where the Moa was lying there is a small lamp, but the spote is very badly lighted. There was no evidence of violence. The gum. boots were smooth on the soles, and it would easily cause, the deceased to slip. The C’oronor returned the following verdict: “The deceased was accidently drowned on the evening of the 27th July, 1911, between one o’clock and a quarter to two. hebeing at the time slightly übt not incapably under the influence oF liquor.”