MATAKARAPA DROWNING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4418, 13 November 1934, Page 2

MATAKARAPA DROWNING.

CORONIAL INQUIRY.

The inquest concerning the death of Ngahana McGregor, the infant son of .Mr and Mrs Arona McGregor, who was drowned in a, well at Matakarapa last Friday, was heard before Mr Alf. Fraser, Coroner, in the local Police Court this morning.

Ema McGregor, in evidence stated that she \yas the mother of the child and resided with her husband and family at Matakarapa Pah. About noon on Friday two of her children went out. to play with witness’ mother as was their usual custom. After a time the grandmother left the children and went into the swamp to get some flax and did not return until 2 p.m. when Ngahana was missing. Witness, on learning of the child’s disappearance, questioned the other child who is only three years of age and ho informed her that his brother was in the well. Witness went to the well and. found the child lying face down in the water and then to all appearances dead. The feet were on the sand and the body was lying on a plank which was used to stand on when drawing water. The child’s face was in the water. It was possible that 'the child had been in that position for an hour. When removed from the water he was quite dead. From the surface of the ground to the water was about four feet and there was previously a plank across the opening but a week previously witness’ husband cut a track in the sand bank to give access to the water and the plank.was then placed on the edge of the water to stand on. Deceased had evidently wandered down the approach and probably on to the plank and then fallen, his face becoming immersed in the water. The approach had been cut with the idea of making the well safer for the children as there was a decided risk of them climbing on to the plank when on top of the well and falling down the shaft. The well had now been filled in. Whainga Rata, mother, of the previous witness, with whom she resides, said that she left the children after spending some time with them to procure some' flax from the swamp. She was absent about two hours and on her return could see only one child. She communicated with her daughter and a search was made with the result that the child was discovered in the well. There was no communication with Foxton from Matakarapa but in any case a doctor could not have been of any assistance when the body was discovered. A verdict was returned that the child met its death by falling into a well and being accidentally drowned.