CORONER'S INQUEST.

Marlborough Press, Volume II, Issue 104, 27 December 1861, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest, was held at the house of Mr. Templeton, Boulder Bank, on the 12th instant, to inquire concerning the death of a man named Joseph Walker, a half-caste, who was drowned in the Wairau river After the jury had viewed the body, the witnesses were examined, who gave the following evidence;— Michael Peel, being sworn, said: I am a boatman living at the Boulder Bank, Wairau. About half-past eight o’clock yesterday morning I was told by a Maori that the body of Joseph Walker was lying on the Boulder Bank. I went there and saw the body. I recognised the body as that, of Joseph Walker, who was lost in the Wairau river on the 12th instant. That is his body that the jury has just viewed. He had his

trousers, belt, and boots on when I found him. I did not observe any marks of violence on the body. The thighs were eaten away by the fish. His trousers were hanging round his ancles. The eyes were out; I should think they were destroyed by fish. The deceased was lost on the 12th instant, and I received a waistcoat, a shirt, a purse, a pocket-knife. The purse contained a half-sovereign, five shillings and sixpence in silver, a silver ring. I received them from a person who said he saw the deceased drown. Ido not know his name, but he is present. This was on the 12th, before six o’clock in the morning. I have been dragging for the body at times ever since I heard he was drowned. The deceased was a half-caste. John Lewis, being sworn, said: lam a sailor. I have been stopping at the Boulder Bank for about a week. About six or seven days ago I was in company with a young man named “ Joe.” I and two other men went with him across the river in a boat to fetch his bullocks. The two other men came back in the boat, and left it on this side of the river. We found the bullocks, and they swam across the river. I called out for the boat to be brought across for ns. I called for some time, but no one answered. Joe took off his vest and gave it to me; he also gave me a pocket-book containing some money, a pocket-knife, and a wool receipt. He said to me, “ hold these, take care of the wool these were his last words to me. He said he would try and cross the river. He walked in as far as he could, and then began to swim. He struck out once or twice, and then he went down. I never heard him cry out. It was not five minutes from the time he left me until he sank. I called out, and in about five minutes some one came to the boat. Two men came across to me. I told them what had happened. We made a search for the body, but could not find it. The next day I went to Port Underwood. The body had not been found when I left. I brought the articles deceased gave me to this house. I fetched Joe’s mate, named Smith, to see them. When we came back Mr. Peel had them. I identify the things now produced as the same. It was just sunrise when Joe went into the water. He had his trousers, boots, and hat on when he rvent in. His hat was picked up floating on the water. I have seen the body that has been washed ashore. I.cannot say if it be Joe, the body is so decomposed. By the Jury : I was drunk myself at the time. Joe had been drinking all night. We did not go to bed. Joe did not have to run after his bullocks. I don’t think he was heated by running when he went into the water. The men who went with us and came back had no shoes; that was the reason they turned back. We were all drunk. The two men have gone to Wellington in the Alert. Joe offered me half-a-crown, which I refused to take. I was going to Wellington in the Alert. I lost my passage through going to sleep under a boat on the beach. Pawini Peel, a Maori, being sworn, said : I am the wife of Michael Peel, of the Boulder Bank. On the morning that Joseph Walker was lost I saw him in company of three men. They left the house about three o’clock in the morning. Joseph Walker was called “ Maori Joe.” He was a half-caste. He was “ fresh” when he left the house, the other men were drunk. The man now present, John Lewis, was one of the men who went with him. Joe asked the men to help him fetch his bullocks. I did not see him again alive. I have seen the body washed on shore. I know it to be Joe. I do not know if Joe had any money in his pocket when he went away. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death,” adding the following recommendation —“ And this jury further recommends to the Provincial G overnment that a Ferry should be established at the Wairau River Mouth, and should be in charge of a policeman, who would further protect life and property, and that grapnells and ropes should be provided, to be ready for any emergency.”