DEATH OF MINER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 8 October 1936, Page 3

DEATH OF MINER

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST HIE CORONER’S FINDING TAKAKA FATALITY (From Our Own Correspondent) TAKAKA, This Day. The inquest into the death of the late Mr Allan Cameron whose body was found far back in the hills on Wednesday last, and who had been missing since late in April, was held before the Coroner, Mr R. W. Kirk, in Taknka on Tuesday. John David Ross, the miner who found the body, giving evidence said: "I am a gold miner by occupation and at present I am working a claim at the Anatiko Forks. I am living in a hut at the Anatoki Forks. I knew the deceased and have known him for the past two and a half years. The last time I saw him alive was about six weeks before he was reported missing. The deceased was prospecting for gold on Snow river. About the 20th of September I lost my two dogs and on the 30th when out looking lor the dogs found the deceased’s body on the range on the north-west side of Paradise Peak. The body was lying on its back where the deceased had sat down upon a stone. There were no signs of a struggle, and it appeared as if the deceased had ,iust gone off to sleep. The red jersey the deceased was wearing attracted my attention when I found the f body. I was a member of the search party that was organised and which searched this particular area. The searchers came quite close to where the_ body was found but missed locating it owing to the roughness of the country.” Charles William Hibbard, campmate of the deceased, stated: “I am a married man with a wife and one child who are residing at Eastbourne, Wellington, and was at present prospecting for gold at Glover’s Flat, Takaka. In October, 1935, I came to Takaka from the Maude goldfields where T had been previously employed prospecting for gold. On arrival at Takaka I met a man named Allan Cameron who was an old friend of mine, having known him for about three or four years at Eastbourne, Wellington. The deceased and myself started work at' Anatoki Forks, where we remained until February, 1936. About the beginning of February we transferred to Snow river and continued prospecting for gold there until the deceased went missing in April. During that period our stores were packed in for us to the Anatoki Forks Camp, and once a fortnight the deceased or myself would come out from Snow river camp to the Anatoki Forks camp where we would collect our supply of stores. On the 27th April the deceased left me at 9 a.m., intending to go to the Anatoki Forks camp to pick up our stores. When he -left me he was in good health and mentioned that he was feeling fit and if it wasn’t too strenuous he might make the return journey that same day. I told him not to attempt the return journey as it was too big a job. He then said that he would wait and return the following day. The deceased then started on his journey, but when he had gone about 5(1 "yards down the, track called out to me and said. ‘I have forgotten the letters, Charlie.’ I went inside and got the letters that were ready for posting and handed them to deceased. That was the last I saw of him. When he left for the Anatoki Forks camp the weather was good but a slight mist came on about midday. The mist was not very heavy and the track was visable for approximately 200 yards ahead. Ido not think that the weather conditions had anything to do with the deceased getting lost on the day he left me. I asked the deceased which track he was taking when going out to the Forks, and he remarked that he hadn’t decided. I have known him to travel over Paradise Peak when on his way out to the Anatoki Forks and he would sometimes come in that way if he had a very light load on. During the period that we were working together the deceased was in good health with the exception of a cold but that was cured before he left me on the 27th April. The deceased never complained of heart attacks and he was in perfect health when he left me that morning. When the deceased did not return the following day I did not worry as the weather came on bad and rained apd snowed for two or three days. On the 2nd May the weather broke in the afternoon and I expected him back on the following day, which was a Sunday. When the deceased did not show up on the Sunday 1 became worried and left the following morning for the Anatoki Forks Camp. I got to the Forks Camp at about 1 p.m. and found that the deceased had not called there and that our stores were still there, not having been picked up. A search party was organised immediately and a search made, but no trace of the deceased could be found. I am unable to say what happened to him. He knew the country very well, as he had travelled out to the Anatoki Forks on several occasions.”

Dr. Edward Coventry Bydder, medical practitioner, said: “On sth October on the premises of the Telegraph Hotel, Takaka, I examined the body of a man said to, be Allan Cameron. 'The body was in an advanced state of decomposition. It was that of a sparely built man about six feet in height. I found no indication of any wound or injury. Such investigation as was possible in this connection was carried out and accordingly I looked for but found no traces of fractured bones, deep penetrating holes suggestive of bullet wounds, or gravel or other foreign matter in the decomposed tissues, i have been informed of the position and the site in which the body was found and also of the previous health of this man. With the few facts at my disposal upon which to base an opinion I cannot offer a definite statement, but the facts are consistent with death having occurred from heart failure.”

Robert Audley, Police Constable stationed at Takaka, gave details of proceeding to where the body lay. “The body was partly covered with clothes and I could identify it as that of Allan Cameron. I made a careful examination and found that there were no marks of violence. There were no signs of a struggle and there was no indication of foul play. I made a careful search in the vicinity but found no evidence which would point to the cause of death. From appearances it looked as if the de-

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ceased was exhausted, sat down on a stone and fell back dead. The deceased was a widower, 37 years of age, and his six children are residing with his mother at Day’s Bay, Wellington.” HEART FAILURE

The Coroner returned a verdict that “the deceased was found dead on Paradise Peak, the cause of death in accordance with medical testimony probably being due to heart failure.” Constable Audley expressed a wish that special mention be made of the valuable assistance and work of the miners. They had carried out the body over a distance of 20 miles and through some of the roughest country in Golden Bay. The Coroner said that he could but endorse the remarks of Constable Audley; undoubtedly the miners deserved the greatest credit for their efforts.