FATAL LANDSLIDE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22355, 28 February 1936, Page 10

FATAL LANDSLIDE

HINDU WORKER TRAPPED ? EVIDENCE OF COMPANIONS [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] "WAIvGANUI. Thursday How a Hindu scrubcutters' camp at Okirae station, between Mangamahu and Fordell, was overwhelmed by a landslide, with fatal results for a third member of the party, was told by two Hindus at the inquest to-day on Kehar Singh, aged 46. Gur Charm Singh, a son of deceased, said their camp was situated in a gully close to a stream on Mr. R. Campion's property. Kehar Singh was preparing the mid-day meal in the kitchen when a large portion of the hillside commenced to slide down above the camp. Witness ran outside with Ratan Singh and got clear of the slip. All the kitchen portion of the camp was covered by the earth. A search for deceased was carried out, but no sign of him was found. Later, when the slip was cleared away, there was still no trace of deceased Subsequently the body was found several feet of water. Deceased was a native of the Punjab and had been in New Zealand off and on for 23 years. Witness was educated in Now Zealand and his mother resided in India. Similar evidence was given by Ratan Singh. John McDougall, manager for Mr. Campion at Okirae station, stated that he helped to clear the slip. The body was found face downward in the creek. Constable Rogers, who went to Fordell to take charge of the body, said death appeared to be due to suffocation The finding of the coroner, Mr. S. M. Dixon, was that deceased met his death by being buried by a fall .of earth at Okirae station.