DROWNING CASES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 8 March 1909, Page 1

DROWNING CASES.

ASHBURTON, Sunday. The body of a man, decomposed beyond recognition, was discovered partially immersed in a pool of dead water under some wiliow trees on tlie sonth bank of the Ashburton river, a mile from town, this morning. The remains were those of a man about the average height, and as far as the police can ascertain by examination, had no whiskers, but a small portion of hair that was on the head waS» grey. Tlie man evidently had been dead for two months, and it is thought that the remains had been washed down the river to where they were found, by the heavy flood which occurred at the end of January. The police are unaware of any man being missing in the Ashburton county, and beyond the description given, and apart from socks and boots, which were all that were on the remains, there was nothing to lead to identification. An inquest will be held. DUNEDIN, Sunday. A drowning accident occurred at Tomahawk yesterday, the victim being Alexander Maxwell, aged 23 years. He was the son of Henry Maxwell, Registrar of Electors. Deceased and a brother aged 21 years, went for a bathe and almost immediately afterwards deceased was seen a considerable distance out in the surf. He suddenly disappeared and was seen no more. His body has not yet been recovered. NAPIER, Sunday. A boy of eight years of age, named Maurice Edward Hughes ,was drowned in the surf near the southern end of the marine parade on Saturday afternoon. Thei-2 was a heavy sea on, and the boy ] was caught by the backwash. At the inquest, Mr S. E. McCarthy. S.M., recorded a verdict of accidentally drowned, adding the following rider: "That the Coroner desires to call the attention of the proper authorities to the uselessness of buoys at present provided for lifesaving purposes. In lieu of buoys there should be provided life-saving belts, with at least 200 yards of suitable rope attached thereto."

As a further rider the Coroner desired to direct public attention to tne fact that on viewing the body it was disclosed that the man Hughes, his wife, and three children, lived in a one-roomed ! outhouse, not more than ten feet long by six feet wide, which was without ventilation of any kind. The body of the deceased was laid on a tablo alongside a sleeping child.