OLD PROSPECTOR'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22030, 9 February 1935, Page 16

OLD PROSPECTOR'S DEATH

DISCOVERY BY ROADMAN

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

[by telegraph—own correspondent] GISBORNE, Friday

An inquest into the death of Thomas Hardy, an aged prospector, was opened by the district coroner, Mr. V. E. Winter, at Waikaremoana and then adjourned to Wairoa. J. Ryan, a roadman at Hopuruahine, stated that deceased had told him he was 84 years of age and a widower. Deceased had been camped on the main Rotorua-Waikaremoana road, three miles on the Rotorua side of Hopurualiine. He also had a flying camp three miles back in the bush from his main camp. Witness saw him on January 28 and he was then in good health. Deceased used a quiet old mare to get about on and was to have had dinner with witness on February 3. As deceased had not arrived at 10 a.m., witness went to look for him. At the main camp he ascertained that the stores were untouched tyid the ashes of the fire were cold. About four chains on the Hopuruahine side of the camp he found deceased's hack with the saddle and bridle on and the reins still over the neck of the horse. Making a further search, he found deceased's body lying face downward across a small log at the bottom of a bank.

It appeared to witness as if the horse must have stumbled while negotiating the bank and fallen on deceased. A square tin in a canvas bag on deceased's back was smashed as though something had rolled on it. The inquest was further adjourned.