INQUEST AT MAEURANGI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5657, 5 January 1880, Page 5

INQUEST AT MAEURANGI.

An iuquesb was helrl on Wednesday last, 31st December, at Mr. George Such'a Warkworth Hotel, touching the death of Abraham Tovey, who was found drowned in a branch of the Maburangi iiiver, known as Matakana Creek, about 2 o'clock same day. The inquiry was held before Mr. M. Angove, Coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr. J. B. Jordan was clio3en foreman. After viewing the body, the following evidence was taken, Special Constable Munro conducting the inquiry:—Michael Wm. Munro deposed that he first heard c£ the accident about 6.30 on the morning of Tuesday last by Mrs. Tovey coming to him, and informing liim as to the boat having been found on the previous night adrift, and with only ono oar. She feared that some accident had happened, as she saw Mr. Tovey take the boat round into the creek at 5 o'clock the same evening. He at once took her in hia boat, and proceeded to search all round the creek to find some trace of him, but not {.being successful he took Mrs. Tovey home, and returned to make further a°arc;h. At about half-tide he found deceased's hat on the mud flat. He continued searching until low water, about the spot where deceased was found. There being a stiff breeze all day, causing a heavy ripple, he could not see more than two inches below the surface. He resumed the search on the following day (Wednesday) about 8 o'clock, and found the missing oar near where he found the hat on the day previous. About mid-day he was joined by two other boats, conveying a number of settlers to assist in the search. They all waited uutil about low watsr, when one of the boats proceeded down the main branch. He heard a cooey, and followed. He called out, "Have you found him?" He heard a reply, " Hero he is." Witness hastened to the spot, where was pointed ont to him something in the water lying on the bottom. He reached down and caught deceased by the shirt, and drew him to the surface. He was assisted in getting the body into his boat by the occupants of the oue along-ide. They then took the body tc the wharf, and placed it in the wharf store, where it then lay. He last saw the deceased alive about 21) minutes past 4 on the afternoon of Monday, the 29th December. The deceased was going towards home.—By a Juror: lie heard of half a battle of spirits being in the boat, but did not see it. Mrs. Tovey told him so. To inquiries, she said he occasionally brought home a bottle of spirits, as he was in the habit of taking a little before he went to bed. He had known deceased from the time he first settled in the district, and never saw him the worse of liquor. He was a sober, industrious man, and in whom his employer placed every confidence. He was servant to Mr. John Grange. When he last spoke to deceased, witness considered him perfectly sober.—To the Foreman: The body was lying face downwards. There was from three to four feet of water. The water was up to his shoulders before he reached the body of deceased. He could not swim, aud was not a very good boatman.—Hugh Wallace gave corroborative evidence, and ttitod tliat deceased was a' sober, steady man. I He never saw him the worse of liquor, and had known him about IS months.— William Trotter, settler, proved being in company with the deceased for an hour on the day of his death. They spoke on general topics. There was about half a bottle of spirits in the boat. He told witness that he pulled Mrs. Williams down to her place and landed her, and that he called at Mr. Southgate's lime-kilns as he was passiug, and gave John Lowe a drink out of the bot'-le. He asked witness to take some, which he did. Witness said, " Will you not taste yourself ?" He said, " No; not till I get home." He did not taste it. He was perfectly sober. Had known hiin for three years. He was a perfectly sober, industrious, and obligiug man. To a Juror: I believe the bottle contained rum. —The jury, after considerable delay, returned the following verdict ;—" That the decsased was found drowned in a branch of the Mahurangi River, bat no evidence to show how."—The remains were interred in the Church of England cemetery at IX a.m. on Thursday, the Ist January, followed by a large circle of-friends, by whom he was highly esteemed. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. D. D. Sparling.—[Own Correspondent, January 4.]