MANAIA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 9 October 1922, Page 8

MANAIA.

' (From Our Own Correspondent.) I INQUEST. I An inquest on the death of Ernest ! James Cox was held in the Court-

house, Manaia, on Friday night, before Mr. A. H. Christie, coroner, and the following jury: N. Innes, G. Nielson, J. A. G. Cosgrove, E. Massey. Mr. Mclnnes was elected foreman. Mr. George Frederick Cox, Inaha, father of the deceased, said that deceased was 13 years of age. The last time he saw him previous to the accident was at about 8.30 a.m. on Wednesday, and he was then going to school. He was in perfect health. At about 2 p.m. on October 4 Mr. Cos was at Kapuni, working on his farm, and his eldest son informed him that an accident had happened to Ernest. The father went straight down to the private hospital and was not then allowed to see the boy. Later they informed him to be prepared for bad n«ws, and did not think that the lad could live. Deceased was always used to riding horses. He has never i been subject to fits and was always in good .health. j James Bryant Murfitt,. of Kaupokonui, aged 13 years, stated that he attended the1 public school at Manaia on Wednesday, October 4. He rode his horse down to the Kapuni river, and another boy, Eric Ransom, was behind him on the same horse. There were about 7 other boys with them, including the deceased, Ernest Cox. Murfitt thought Ernest walked down to the river and had a swim with the rest of the boys. The next time he saw him, he was (riding a pony near Waikoura stream. He was then riding on the road and crossed on to the footpath, and Murfitt called out to him to look out for the telegraph poles, as he had just missed one. Cox was not riding fast, just cantering along, and the next thing he saw him hit the electric light pole. Witness was about half a chain behind him on the edge of the road. Just after seeing • the accident witness went straight for •■ the doctor and left word at his house. The horse did not seem to swerve when > the boy struck iflie post. To Mr. Cosgrove's question. Murfitt l stated thai he was on the pony by himself, and it belonged to a Maori boy. . James Hickey, farmer, residing at , Manaia, stated that, on Wednesday, October 4, at about 1.30 p.m., he l noticed a pony stop at his gate, and it . had a saddle and bridle on it. He was informed by a Maori boy that an , accident had happened on the road, and, on going back along the road, he = saw the deceased partly standing up. Mr. Lloyd was there when he arrived, ■ and he informed witness that lie had rung up the doctor.. The mail car had just stopped when Mr. Lloyd informed i him what he had done, so they put : Ernest Cox on the car and had him taken to Manaia hospital. Before ■ taking him to the hospital he was quite conscious, and he asked him if ■ he was in any pain and he replied no. ; When they arrived at the hospital witness asked him if he could walk and • -he said yes. He did not ask him how ; the accident happened. He was not bleeding a great lot. He sat up in the , car when they were taking him to the , hospital. Witness examined the spot ; where the accident happened and the - electric light pole. Judging by the marks on the post Cox must have been , a healthy boy to remain conscious so , ( long. The saddle was perfectly straight ioh the pony. The matron took charge* , of the boy on arrival at the hospital, , and the doctor arrived four to five mini vies afterwards. - To^Mr. Innes: Witness could not say now many T>oys were about at the ' time. Dr. Maunsell, medical practitioner, t Manaia, said that on Wednesday, October 4, he received a telephone message to say that an accident had hap-' pened about Mr. Lloyd's gaie, and c-n , Jais way down someone informed him that the boy had been taken to the hospital. On arrival at the hospital he , found deceased in the operating theatre with the nurses attending to him. On examining him, the Doctor found a wound extending from the middle of the scalp right down the middle of the face, involving the upper lip and passing through the roof of the mouth. The wound extended deeply into the brain, and the nose was completely lacerated. Witness gave orders to get Dr. Buist out to assist him, and an operation was performed, but deceased's condition was hopeless, and he died early in the morning. The cause of death would be i chiefly injury to the brain and shock. He was semi-conscious when witness first saw him. Dr. Maunsell was quite satisfied that the wound could be caused by coming into contact with an electric light pole. There were no other marks on the body except those on the face and head. The verdict of the jury was: "That the deceased, Ernest James Cox, met his death by accidenfafly colliding with an electric light pole, no blame being attachable to anyone." The jury wish to extend the following rider: "That they extend to Mr. and Mrs. Cox and family their sympathy in their bereavement." I i '

The funeral of the late W. G. Hotter, of Patea, took place last Tuesday at,Patea. The deceased, who was very-well-known in Patea, resided there for a period of 43 years. He was held in very high esteem by all who knew him for his straightforward and reliable character. There was a large attendance at the funeral to pay their last respects to the deceased, the Rev. H. B. Goertz officiating at the burial services. The deceased is survived by a widow and seven children—Messrs W. J. Hotter, T. 11. Hotter, E. G. Hotter, J. G. Hotter, W. Hotter, Mrs Leith (Manakau) and Mrs E. Close (Levin). The deepest sympathy is extended to them.

There was a very lengthy cortege, including a large number of bandsmen, at the funeral of the late James Sara, which took place at Westport a xew days ago. Members of various local lodges were present and floral tributes werein evidence from, all parts of.the district. Rev. Mr Coursey conducted the burial service of the English Church, and Bro. J. H. Williams read the Oddfellows' service. The Westport Garrison Band played the Dead March. The funeral of Ernest James Cox left the residence of his parents on Friday afternoon for the Manaia cemetery. It wasf very largely attended 'by the residents of Inaha, Manaia, and , district. The pupils of both schools of Manaia were present to show their last respect to their school comrade. The pall-bearers were six schoolboy class mates of the deceased. A beauti- ' ful wreath was laid on the grave by the pupils of the public school. The Rev. A. C. Swainson, vicar of St. Cuthbert's, officiated at the grave. The deepest sympathy is extended to Mr and Mrs Cox and family in their very sad bereavement. POLITICAL. Mr D. L. A. Astbury, Liberal-Labour candidate for the Egmont seat, wi*l ad- ' dress the electors in the Manaia Town Hall to-night (Monday) at 8 o 'clock, j