THE BARRIER FATALITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18458, 23 July 1923, Page 6

THE BARRIER FATALITY

OPENING OF THE INQUEST. BODY AT FOOT OF CLIFF ■■ ', ■■ .''';-.. • . ' I '. ' ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE. An inquest concerning the death of Hubert George Weideman at the Little Barrier Island, was opened by the coroner; Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., on Saturday, and after evidence of identification, was adjourned sine die. William Cleaver, caretaker .of the island, who gave, evidence very briefly, stated that the last occasion on which he saw Weideman alive was on the evening of June 15. Ho was then in the house with witness, and retired to be,d about 7.30 p.m. On June 27, witness found the body at the foot;, of what is known as the Shagness Cliff. The body, which. was lying face downwards, with the arms outstretched, was in a decomposed state. Deceased was fully dressed, except hat and boots, which were old and broken, and appeared to have been kicked off the feet, were found above high-water : mark, about a mile and a-half distant from the .body.; '. j . , .■'•'"=>* ,-; • No further evidence was taken. ~;, The inquest will probably be continued in the second week in August: The postmortem examination was completed, on Saturday. : ■■;'•■:. - >■ The funeral.of Mr. Weideman will, take place to-day. ;-.'. V . , CUSTODIAN OP THE ISLANDf MR. ,W. CLEAVER'S CAREER.. ' Mr. William Cleaver, the ' present s caretaker of. the : Little Barrier, ; who i gave evidence at the inquest on Hubert George Weideman, will probably -return to the island to-day. ~ In the. meantime, his. wife and family of four children have a sister of Mrs. Cleaver keeping > them company on the island. • The whole family ; will return to Auckland at end of this mort-h. as arrangements were! made ' by- the Department of Internal Affairs some two months ago to transfer Mr. Cleaver to a position in the city. ■}, He will be' succeeded by Mr. Nelson, who was custodian of the island for some considerable time prior to the appointment'of .Mr. Cleaver. Mr. Nelson was 1 gardener in Britain to, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, the late High Commissioner for New Zealand."; He is a finished-horticulturist, and keenly in-' terested in bird life. ;He left the • Little Barrier in order that ■ his daughter's education should not be neglected. -When the police launch went to the island last week.' Mr. Nelson took ; the opportunity of Roing down to make arrangements ' about taking: wer. certain ■•>; stock from Mr. Cleaver. The position of . custodian on : the island carries a salary of £205 per annum, from which £18 is deducted' for rent. ■,■ ■■■■ ■ ' ' v '■'■ ■'. '':■■ : "■ Mr. Cleaver is a London man, born in 1882. He served some time in the Navy, from which he was discharged in 1912. He served in the New Zealand Expedi-, tionary Force, and in August, 1917, was discharged• with wounds. Upon his re-; turn to New Zealand, he was given ah appointment by the Department of 11n-, ternal Affairs. He married soon after his return to the Dominion, and in May, 1922, was appointed caretaker on Littls Barrier. , ■'■'."-