INQUEST AT MERGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7404, 12 August 1885, Page 5

INQUEST AT MERGER.

An inquest was held on the body of John Cor, at Rangiriri, on Monday, before Mr. Searaucke, coroner, aud a jury of twelve, of whom Mr. Thomas Clerk McElroy was chosen foromau. Sergeant Gillies appeared on behalf of the police. The evidence of Miss Jane Dyke, William and George Detherey, A. Wilson, and John H. Graham was taken, which went to show that the deceased and Wilson arrived at the Rangiriri Railway Station by the evening train, from Mercer, on the evening of the Bth inst., and thence proceeded to the Rangiriri railway bridge, where they had their boat made fast. They then got into the boat, and started to go down the Ouetea Creek, which leads into the Waikato River. When they had proceeded about ten chains down the creek, the deceased was apparently about to fix the sail, the boat capsized, and both men fell into the creek. The deceased again got into tho boat, and while attempting to pull Wilson into the boat (who was still struggling in the water), the boat again capsized, and the deceased once more fell into the creek, where he struggled for some time, but sank, and did not rise again, The cries of Miss Dyke, who witnessed all, brought the assistance of two young men named William and George Detherey, who succeeded in saving Wilson from being drowned. Wilson was at this time trying to swim ashore, but seemed completely exhausted, and when brought to the bank of the creek he remained insensible for a considerable time. The creek is about 30 yards wide, and about 14 feet deep. The deceased was 37 years of age, and leaves a wife and eight children totally unprovided for. The jury found a verdict of "Accidentally drowned."—[Own Correspondent, August 10 1