SHOCKING FATALITY ON HASTINGS ROAD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XIX, Issue 3293, 5 December 1892, Page 2

SHOCKING FATALITY ON HASTINGS ROAD.

DROWNING or MESSES. BOSKRUGE

AND PAGE.

Considerable excitement was created in town on Saturday by the receipt of the news that Mr M. J. Boskruge, a wellknown settler in the distriot, resident on the Hastings road, and also William Page had been drowned. Our Eltham correspondent forwarded us news of the sad affair, but too late for publication on Saturday. On Sunday, Mr. C. E. Major, J.P., acting coroner, held an inquest, and the facts deposed to thereat will explain tbe circumstances.

William Charles Candy, of Hastings road, being sworn, said — We all went for a bathe yesterday, namely, James Sylvester, William Brown, myself, and Mr. Roskruge ; we went to a dam about three chains from Mr. Roskruge's house ; James Sylvester ani myself only had a wash ; Mr. Boskruge had a swim and dressed again, and the deoeased William Page and Fiank Halligan came down; William Page went in, and when half way across cried for help and Mr Boskruge swam in to him, and Page caught hold of him around the neck. I think Mr. 'Boikrnge caught Page by the hand. Page pulled Mr. Boskruge underneath. I then ran for help to the house, and got a rope at the same time. When I returned I could just see Page sinking, but could not see Mr. Boskruge. I threw the rope in, but he did not take it. I then ran for other assistance When I came back I could not see either of them. Mr. Eoskruge was a good swimmer. I am 20 years of age. I cannot swim.

Frank Halligan, of Hastings road, farm hand— l am 17 years of age. I recognise the bodies in the adjoining room as the bodies of Mr. Boskruge and William Page. I went to the dam abont three chains from here with William Page to bathe, and when I got there I did not go in, as I could not swim. Page swam to the middle, and then turned to come back, and then cried " Help, help !" Mr. Roskruge went in to his aid. Mr. Roskrnge caught him by the arm, and Page caught him around the shoulders. They then struggled to reach the land. They both went down, and Page came up twice to the surface, and Mr. Boskruge rose only once. They did not speak. Page rose out about up to bie waist. Mr. Boskrage only rose a few inches and went down again. Candy went to get assistance and a rope. They were only abont three yards from the bank. I was there when the last witness came back and saw him throw a pole and a rope in, and was there when they were taken out. A man came and grappled Mr. Boskrage and pulled him up. The water in tbe dam was let off and Page's body got out about an hour and a-half after. They were quite dead. Mr. Boskruge's body was taken out about an hour after he was drowned. I was five yards away from where they were struggling to get back and it would have tauen five minutes to run around with a pole. I may be mistaken a3 to the distance it may be more than I have said.

B. Patterson, police constable, stationed at Hawera, being sworn, said : — I viewed the bodies of the deoeased yesterday afternoon ; I examined them carefully ; I found no marks of violence or scratches on their bodies ; the only appearance was that of a person drowned ; one body was stripped ; I stripped Mr. Eoskrage's body to examine same.

Wm. Ernest Candy, of Palmer road, Okaiawa, farmer, being sworn, said : — I knew the deceased ; he was my brother-in-law; his name was Maurice James Boskrnge ; he has been farming most of his life; his age is about 43; he is a married man ; I saw him alive last week ; he was a strong, healthy man, so far as I knew; I bave known him for aboat 20 years. A verdict of " Accidentally drowned " was returned.

The occurrence has caused widespread regret, Mr. Boskrnge, wbo was the better known of the two. bearing a high reputation throughout the distriot as a hardworking, industrious settlor. He had for some time past been carrying on a large dairy (over 80 cows), in oonneotion with wbicb. being used to drive the machinery, the dam was constructed. It is not a

large affair— abont 10 yards across— and that snob dreadful results should have occurred attach a place is remarkable. Mr. Roskruge leaves a wife and a family of email children, and tbe widow will especially receive great sympathy just now. William Page was working for Mr. Roskruge. He came np from Canterbury i only about a fortnight ago, and therefore very little is here known about him.