HOKIANGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3696, 15 September 1873, Page 3

HOKIANGA.

BECOYERT OP THE BODY OF OATTAIN WILMAM' SIMPSON. —INQUEST. The body of Captain William- Simpßon, who was drowned at midnight on the 21 st August, was discoved floating in the Hokianga river, about a mile from .where the accident occurred, on Saturday morning last, the 6th instant. An inquost was held on the body at twelve o'clock of tho same day, before Spencer Von Sturmer, Esq., Coroner, and a respectable jury, Mr. Henry R. Grove, foreman, when the following evidence was given :—

JohnHarrisdeposed: I found the body which I have just seen, at Matawhera, floating in the river. I believe it to be the body of tho late pilot, William Simpson. When I found the body I attached a piece of flax to it and towed it home to put it in a canoo, for the purpose of bringing it to Herd's Point. I knew tho pilot was drowned, and was searching for his body, and I knew it was him when I found the body.

Charles Osborne, master mariner, deposed : I h aye just seen the body, which I believe to be that of the late pilot. The night of the 21at August was the last time I saw him alive. He put me on board my ship,, the Hebe, and then left. He did not come on board. He told me ho was going to tho Kohukohu to report the ship's arrival to Mr. Webster, and said he would be back at five next morning to take me up the river. My ship was lying about half-a-mile from Herd's Point when he brought me on board. It was blowing very hard, and it was a dark, dirty night, with a strong ebb-tide in the river. After he left tho ship I heard deceased order his crew to set tho sail and reef it. I made a remark thatnight to the deceased that I thought his bout was an awkward one and unsafe. I think a man, in a heavy sea, would easily slip overboard whilst shipping the rudder or yoke in such a boat. I never heard any quarrelling between tuo pilot and his crew $ the men seemed very willing and obedient.

Kiki Painehe, an aboriginal native, deposod : I am ono of the crew of tho pilot - boat. On Thursday night the vessel Hebe anchored off Herd's Point. After anchoring, the deceased, with Captain Osborne, came ashore in our boat. Wo remained ashore some time, and returned to the vessel about midnight. Captain Osborne was put on board, his ship, and the pilot ordered us to shove off, and told us to pull. We asked him where wo were going, and tho pilot said to tho Kohukohu. We pulled a short distance, when the pilot called tons to set the sail. I hoisted the sail, and my mate the jib, and I went aft to ship the yoke. The pilot asked me to leave the yoke and help my male to sot the jib, as he could not do it properly. I went forward to fasten the jib. When done, wo turned round to go aft. We saw that the pilot was not in the stern of the boat. I called out twice and got no answer. I then took the sail down, and began to ory for my European, becanso he had fallen overboard. Then wo went down tho stream, looking for hiin. When the squall was over wo were off the mouth of Motu Karaka Creek. We then came back from there, searching as wo camo along to the Point, and gave notico to the people ashore that the pilot had fallen overboard into the sea. We got a boat's crew, and help to assist to look for the pilot. Wo wont 011 board the vessel; got no tidings of him, aud returned to tho shore. The body I have just Been is that of tho lale pilot, William Simpson. It was a dark night and squally when tho accident happened. There was a squall when I was putting up tho sail, aud still blowing when I took tho yoko of tho rudder aft. In a heavy sea there was great danger in shipping the joke or rudder in the pilol-boat. There was nothing to prevent a person slipping, nor was there anything to lay hold of. Whea I wne setting the jib I hoard no cry. I was a good time at the iib, as the sail was flapping. I did not see the pilot go to ship tho yoke. Tho accident happened about midnight. I think he slipped over whilst shipping the yoke. The reason I think so was that tho yoko was not in the boat afterwards. We had 110 disputes or qifarrels. Wala Tahana, another of the crew of tho pilot boat, corroborated the evidence of the last witness.

_ After consultation, tho jury returned a verdict of accidentally drowned, tho accident being caused through the pilot-boat being unsafe in the stern.