Tragic End to Shooting Trip

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 31, 4 May 1934, Page 1

Tragic End to Shooting Trip

A tragic end to a shooting trip of three Auckland sportsmen occurred at Lake Ohia on Tuesday evening when Robert H. Nelson, aged 52, an official of the Auckland City Counoil, died suddenly. The shooting party consisting of deceased and Messrs C. F. Fowler and C. W. Schrauer all of Auckland, left city on Saturday in Mr. Schrauer’s car intending to spend some days shooting in tiie North. On Monday the party, pitched their camp at Lake Ohia and cn. Tuesday morning, tbe first day of tiie season, tbe three men started out after, tbe birds. The deceased appeared to- be. in good health but they bad not gone, very far before be found that be was ex-, periencing difficulty in surmounting the bills. His companions advised him toreturn to camp which he did. After lunch and a rest, the party set out again, Mr. Nelson, on the advice of bis companions, keeping to tbe flat country. Returning to camp at about 5 o’clock,. Messrs Schrauer and Fowler met Mr„ Nelson about 94 of a mile from camp.. He appeared to be in good health and spirits, although complaining of a queer pain in his chest. His companions put this down to his age and his inability to cope with tbe bard country over which the party had been shooting. Arriving at camp, the men were sitting on the bunks discussing the day's sport, when deceased, who was in the act of rolling a cigarette fell forward dead before he had completed the operation. Const. Thornel], of Kaitaia, was immediately notified and the body was brought into Kaitaia.

An inquest was held on Wednesday afternoon, before the district coroner Mr. L. A. Mclntosh, and a verdict, o accidental death from heart failure, was. returned following the evidence of Dr. Rule who had conducted a post mortem examination.

The body was sent to Auckland for interment, by Thursday’s train, and deceased's companions abandoned their trip and returned home by car on Thursday.

Deceased leaves a widow and two children.