TAIRUA BAR TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18374, 14 April 1923, Page 10

TAIRUA BAR TRAGEDY.

SAVING APPLIANCES. EQUIPMENT ON LAUNCHES. [BX TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] THAMES. Friday. An inquest was held at Tairua regarding the death of Harry Chappell, one of the victims of the Easter launch tragedy at the Tairua bar, before Mr. J. H. Prescott, . J.P., acting-coroner, and a jury. Evidence was given by William George Walsh, one of the survivors, H. A. Cory-Wright, Cyril W. Cory-Wright, and Frank Vicra. The? evidence corroborated the statements previously given by Mr. H. Cory-Wright, as published ■in the New Zealand Herald. Additional facts disclosed were that there were no lifebelts or life-buoys on the launch Lorraine. "■' '■■..," "- The evidence of the crew of the launch Elida showed that nobody saw Axel Rolandson, one of the victims, go overboard from the launch , Elida. It was thought that he must have been thrown out when the first big breaker struck the launch as they saw him immediately before, and missed him immediately afterwards. The jury returned a verdict of accidental drowning, no blame being attachable to anyone. The jury expressed the opinion that the Lorraine was not sufficiently equipped with life-saving appliances, and stronelv commended the conduct of the Cfery-Wright brothers in connection with the tragedy.