ACCIDENTAL DROWNING

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 24 October 1912, Page 5

ACCIDENTAL DROWNING

CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 23. At Goalgate yesterday the district coroner conducted an jnqxiest touching the death of John Allinsbn. Joseph Taylor stated ' that he and deceased were laborers employed at Mount Algidus Station. On Saturday last deceased and witness left the station on horseback about six o'clock in the morning to come down to Christchurch. At the Wilberforce river they looked for the ford, and came to a place where there were horse tracks. Deceased suggested that they should cross there, but wtiness demurred, as he believed it would be too dangerous. Deceased said, "We'll chance it," and went into the river. Before he had gone far both he and his horse had disappeared. Deceased stuck to the -horse for fifty or sixty yards, and was then washed down the stream. Where the accident happened the Wilberforce runs very fast. Witness could do nothing to help deceased, who was wearing a heavy overcoat. W. Logan, station managei", gave evidence as to the finding of the body in the Rakaia, seven miles from where it went in. The Wilberforce was a dangerous river, and at the point where deceased tried to cross was particularly so. A verdict was returned that deceased was accidentally drowned.