SURVEY HAND'S DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14845, 23 November 1911, Page 7

SURVEY HAND'S DEATH.

Miiß !",-■■■•■•■■'' '— ' ♦ —- — * >7IEART FAILURE AND DROWNING."

1 ' TBT telegraph.—own correspondent.] * ~ Dargavtlle, Wednesday. ''Ax inquest was held to-day at Ahikiwi 'by Mr. T. Webb' (Coroner) on the body of •John Dennis Burns, aged 26 years. Con- , "'stable McDonnel represented the police. 'The evidence showed that the deceased , was a chain/nan engaged on the staff of 'Mr. Sheratt in surveying the Awakino 1 Crown lands. Yesterday, whilst working : with the party in a gorge An the upper portion .of the Awakino creek he was drag--1 ging the chain, and in place of going round la' deep pool, which interrupted the line, essayed to swim across, still retaining the ; chain. On plunging into the water he ' V suddenly sank without a struggle or a % word. Mr. Sheratt and his two com--1 panions recovered the body within four ' '■ minutes, and attempted artificial respirat tion without avail. Dr. Horton was tele- " graphed for, and on arrival pronounced .' that death had been almost instantaneous, [ due to heart weakness. A verdict was re- | turned to-the effect that the deceased met , ! his death through heart failure and drowning. The deceased was a native of Aus- • iralia and, as far as can be learned, has •no relations in New Zealand. *