Spoil in Stream Did Not Cause Disaster

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 5

Spoil in Stream Did Not Cause Disaster

CORONER’S FINDINGS Per Press Association. WAIROA, Last Night. That each of the deceased was found dead on the shores of the Kopuawhaia stream below No. 4 camp, Kopuawhara Valley; that the deceased met their death by drowning in the Kopuawhara stream at approximately 3.45 a.m. on February 19; that the deceased’s deaths occurred by misadventure arising directly out of the phenomenally severe flooding of the Kopuawhara stream which occurred suddenly during the hours of darkness whereby No. 4 camp was completely swept away and destroyed; that the evidence shows that the deceased would in all probability have been rendered unconscious before death by moving boulders and logs in the stream and so \yould have been incapable of assisting themselves to safety. This was the finding delivered by the Coroner, Mr. V. E. Winter, at the conclusion of the inquest into the deaths cf 19 of the victims of the Kopuawhara tragedy. He added that from the evidence given he was-satisfied that the dumping of spoil from the tunnel into the stream had nothing to do with the disaster. “It is quite clear to me," said the Coroner, “that from the evidence that has been given by all the witnesses that something very much out of the ordinary occurred in Kopuawhara and the surrounding districts on the night of February 18. It is something perhaps that has never before been heard of in the history of New Zealand. This, in my opinion, was the cause of the flooding of the Kopuawhara stream, thereby causing the washing away of No. 4 Camp and thereby causing the death of 21 persons w'ho were swept away. It is something which has never been experienced before, this sudden downpour of rain which was the cause of the disaster.

“I have already expressed uxy sympathy with the relatives. The disaster is one of the most appalling in the history of New Zealand. I had the opportunity of visiting the locality ani the scene of desolation and devastation was so astonishing that it conveyed something to me of the terrible ordeal of that night. A whole story of heroism could be told, not only of the survivors but by those who lost their lives. I am convinced that everyone in camp that night is deserving of the highest praise. I take this opportunity again to express sympathy with the relatives and to express the hope that the survivors will have a happy future and forget the horrors of that night." The coroner also paid a tribute to the police, the engineers at the camps, and the witnesses for the manner in which they gave their evidence. Mr. L. W. Willis also expressed sympathy with the relatives and his appreciation on behalf of the Public Works Department for the splendid co-opera-tion given by the employees, officers and polic*