CORONER'S INQUEST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 20, 23 January 1877, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST.

. An inquest was held last evening bbfore Ptt'S(_uu'es, : thb coroner, and a jury, on the. . body of William Eastwood, whose death by drowning was reported in our yesterday's town edition. The deceased was a resident at Onehunga, aud was spending a few days in Nelson on his way- home, afterhaving made a pleasure trip to the southern provinces. We regret to learn that he leaves a widow and six children. The evidence taken was as follows:— . Bobert Gray, son of Mr B. Gray the Wood, deposed: I w.as bathing to-day in the Maitai. I got out, and when I was getting on my shirt Mr Eastwood went into the deep part. He began to struggle and held his arms up. I called out to David Whiting, H. Eowe, Crisp, and Bobert Infield, who were near to come and help. They thought I was joking, and sang out, "Doit yourself." There was a gentleman— Mr Welch— with Mr Eastwood. He was undressing himself at the time, and sang out to the boys also. When he called they ran aud came across the river. Whiting said, " Come in with our clothes on," and he and Crisp went in. I wa& frightened and ran away. Francis Gregory Welch, a gentleman at present residing with the Bev Mr Leighton, Nelsori,- said: I went to bathe with Mr Eastwood to day in the Maitai Eiver at the second hole. He went in. I was undressing with ; my. back to the river. The last that I saw of the deceased alive was when he was bathing his head before going into deep water. I next heard him splashing and thought he was amusing himself at first; then,, seeing that he jdid not get out, I saw the danger he was in. il called to the boys whe were on the other (side. One of them went in without stopping |to undress. When he got to to the place . Mr [Eastwood had sunk. He said, " I can do no jgood; he is at the bottom— it is all over." I j understand the boy's name is David Whiting, I and he is under fourteen years of age. I i went to the.Parsonage and told Mr Leighton, | who rode off, at once and got the body out of jthe water. The bodyjnuat'havebeenin eight or nipe feet of water. I was bathing on I Saturday with Mr Eastwood, when he cautioned me abont the hole. lam a cripple, and not able to swim. Dr Bbor was at the j spot when tbe body was taken out. The j deceased could not awim. j The jury returned a verdict of " Aecidenti ally drowned," to which they added a rider, i calling the attention of the Government to the dangerous state of the bathing hole, and urging upon then* the necessity of putting up a board warning bathers of the danger.