Inquest Into Maori’s Drowning

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1939, Page 8

Inquest Into Maori’s Drowning

KAWAKAWA, This Day

A verdict of accidental drowning was returned by the Coroner (Mr. T. J. V. Dunlop) when the inquest into the death of Miki Apiata, who was drowned at Pakaraka on Wednesday week, was held at Pakaraka. Evidence was given by Roy Takimoana, 15, also of Oromahoe. who said that Apiata and Tam Apiata, Robert Apiata and he went to the Owhareiti Lake at Pakaraka at 8 p.m. on the night in question.

The party separated at the lake, witness and deceased taking to a boat while the others.went along the shore. When the boat was abom two chains from the shore it was noticed to be half-full of water. ■ Laughed at Predicament. “We had no bailing tin and laughed over our predicament,” Takimoana stated, “but we decided to head back for the shore when the bow suddenly went up in the air and the stern went down.” Takimoana said that he had commenced to swim to the bank after kicking off his gum-boots, when he failed to see Apiata swimming behind him, although he noticed a light, which was evidently Apiata’s torch, sink to the bottom of the lake, where it went out. ' Apiata, he said, was wearing two coats, and heavy working books at the time. He also had his denim trousers tied up round his ankles. He was always regarded as a good swimmer. ,

Evidence was given by Dr. G. F. Frengley, who stated that he had examined Apiata and found that death had been caused by drowning.