ACCIDENTAL DEATH

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1928, Page 4

ACCIDENTAL DEATH

CORONER ’B [VERDICT.

KAIKOU yALLE’Y TRAGEDY,

An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Hugh Christie; who was killed on Monday leyefiiifg while bushfelling in Kaikou Yalley, was held at the Hikurangi Police Court yesterday, before Mr P. Mcßeth, Acting Coroner. \ John Christie, brother of identified the body and gave •evidence that on the 18th instant he went to Kaikou Valley and found his brother crushed between two trees. The tree ho was cutting down had evidently kicked back and trapped deceased against another fallen trunk, completely crushing deceased’s body and breaking his neck. Frederick John Halse stated that about. 3 p.m. on Monday ho- and a Maori boy named Plarahau went into the bush to work with. Christie. They worked together until about 3.45 p.m., when Halsc and the Maori went about a chain and a half further on to cut some scrub. At 4 o’clock witness stopped for a smoke and he called Christie, but on receiving no reply ■s-cpeluded that he had gone back to the camp to prepare tea. Witness returned about 7 p.m., add immediately upon finding that Christie had not returned instituted a search, ■while the Whangarei police were informed. Constable Quinn, of the Hikurangi : police, stated that he proceeded to the ■ scene at once. He corroborated the previous -witness’ evidence. The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, no iblamc being attachable to any persdti.