Drowned at Manawatu Heads

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 88, 14 April 1938, Page 5

Drowned at Manawatu Heads

INQUEST INTO CIRCUMSTANCES OF TRAGEDY At tho inquest yesterday morning nto the circumstances surrounding the leath of Vincent Charles Laird, who vas washed overboard from the launch, Che Pilot, at Manawatu Heads on 3, the Coroner, Mr. A. J. Graham, dated that he would just return a verlict that deceased was drowned at Manawatu Heads on April 3, having )een washed overboard from a launch. Evidence was given by others in tho Ishing party of which the deceased was i member. They were of the opinion :hat they could not effect a rescue inder the circumstances. The proceedings for the police were conducted by Sergeant AV. O’Donnell. That he was a member of the party vhich went fishing on April 3, 1938, in x launch at Foxton was the evidence of Ulifton Raymond Anderson, tx printer, Palmerston North. The launch, which * belonged to Mr. Smith, of Foxton, was ' called The Pilot. The members of the 1 ?arty were Graham, Smith, Vining, | tfewetli, Saville, Laird and himself, fhey went out at about 10.30 a.m., over ;he bar and turned north about a mile ind a-half from shore. They fished for ibout an hour and after catching only me fish decided to turn back, making straight for the bar. The beacons were practically obscured by spray and they had difficulty in finding them. It was nazy and there was a very heavy swell, rhey were then about half a mile from the shore. After they turned to go they carried on for about three minutes when a big wave came up behind them, rhey came out of its broadside on and the wave had stopped the engine. They used the oars, trying to bring the boat head on, but it was hopeless. Witness lid not miss deceased but saw him sitting in the stern sheets of the boat prior to the wave. He was not concerned about the condition of the boat. Deceased was seen in the water 100 yards away, swimming strongly towards the launch, and witness did not see him disappear. Laird could not have beeu swimming for more than two minutes before they missed him. When he had been swimming about ten minutes another big wave camo and nearly upset the boat. It was the last they saw of deceased. They threw the life belt over but he was really too far away for them to do anything. They ultimately got 1 the engine going again, and, as there was no sign of deceased, they made straight out to sea and anchored about

half a mile from where deceased disappeared. It was half past twelve when the landed. They were then picked up by a fishing launch from Kapiti. There was about a gallon of beer in a demi-john aboard. They put three bottles of lemonade in with tho liquor. They had about only one glass each half an hour before they started to come in. Deceased had only one glass and was perfectly sober. As soon as they got to Paraparaumu the matter was reported to the constable at Foxton. It would not be known that the man was lost until they got to Paraparaumu. The deceased wa3 sitting in the stern sheets of the boat while they were all up in the front looking out for beacons. Ho was not in a state of unconcern because he had liquor and it did not appear that he was sitting in a dangerous position. He was washed overboard and a fair bit of damage was done to the boat. They threw everything they could lay their hands on overboard so that they could bail tho boat out more easily. The demi-john was thrown overboard. The conduct of the party did not in any way | contribute to the accident. They did everything possible to assist the deceased in tho circumstances. I James Humphrey Smith, a resident at Manawatu Heads, said he was a member of the party and owner of the boat, The Pilot. They had been fishing for about an hour when it became rough and they decided to come in. He saw deceased in the sea about two chains from the boat, hurriedly untied the buoy with the intention of throwing it over. Deceased disappeared and the party were picked up by a launch from Kapiti which took them to Paraparaumu. Although the party had about two glasses of liquor all were quite sober and there was nothing in their behaviour to suggest carelessness or neglect. George Vining, a mechanic, was another member of the party. Choppy weather and a lack of fish prompted the party to return to shore and all were looking for beacons on shore while deceased was sitting in the stern of the boat. He was the only man who caught a fish. When a large wave swamped the boat it was a case of every man-for himself. Witness did not see Laird in the water, but he saw Smith go up to the deck house to let the life buoy out. He heard a voice call out that there was a man overboard. By (hat time the boat was half full of water and everybody was bailing out. He did not think that any man could live in such a sea. William Arthur Cal well, police constable at Otaki, heard of the tragedy through police notices and proceeded to the place by lorry after receiving a

telephone message at 9.30 a.m. on April S, and found the body. It was identified as Laird. The body was lying face down on the beach approximately three miles north of Otaki beach, and was about 50 yards from low water mark and 13 yards from high water mark, partly covered with sand. The Coroner remarked that he would like to commend Constable W. A. Calwell on the prompt way in which he recovered the body.