INQUEST AT PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13386, 12 September 1905, Page 7

INQUEST AT PORT CHALMERS.

The body of Robert Dow, ono of the two brothers ■who. wero' drowned, out fif .a small boat an August 3, was Seen floating m Dowling Bay at 4.30 p ni. 011 Sunday.by George Carcv. Information was given to Sergeant Partly, raid the body was brought np to Port Chalmers, whe'rft an inquest was held yesterday afternoon before Mr C. C Grahaiu (district coronor) and a jury .of six, oi- whom 3lr E. Godfred was chosen foreman. Mr Bundle appeared to present deceased's family.--' Alfred Larkins, - 'a labourer, residing 'at Corey's Bay. said ho knew deceased, who lived at the lower harbour, and was a farm labourer, aged 39 years, and married. 'Witness was with the two brothers aid others on August 3 in the Crescent Hotel. He last saw deceased and his brother . John at 9.45 . p.m. that day. Deceased was perfectly sober. Witness asked liim.it he waa going home, and received a reply in tho 1 affirmative. The night was cold but the weather-not bad. Witness. was on his way . homo about 25 minutes past 10 o'clock when lie heard cries from tho direction of the water. He ran towards tho bc2ch. and saw a woman, who called out, ''Sly God! get a boat. 1 ' .Witness ' ran 1 oh, and met- another moil, and informed him lie was going for a boat. The roan replied, "You are too late. They are both gone; boat and:man." Witness obtained a boat, and went out to search, but saw nothing. By Sergeant Pardv: Witness was not aware that deceased purchased for his mother a flask of whisky "before'ho left the hotel. The boat was a small one, Bft by 4ft. . The two brothers were at all times the best of friends. It was a riskv thing (o be in such a smnll.'boat.' . To Mr Bundle: The deceased : waa in tho habit of taking home a small flask of whisky for hi 3 mother. . George Hutchinson Carey; labourer, Lower Harbour. stated that at 4.30 p.ni. on tho SunCisy, as he was on tho beach at Dowling B ( -,y, Jie'saw a body floating in tho water. > He brought tho body ashore, and informed Mr Larkins. •limes llouty deposed tlrat ho wa3 with deceased and o'.hers in the Cre'scent Hotel on 4he night of August 3, and left them before 10 o'clock. They each had four small glasses of beer, served to them by 2vfrs Mackie. Witness was positive they had no' more, and that they were perfectly sober. Heien Mackie. wife of the licensee of the Orescent Hotel, stated that deceased was in her house on the night of August 3. with others. They had each four small beers and lemonade. They were all sober when they left. Witness gave deceased a small flask of whisky. ' He wa3 in tho habit of taking one home to his mother. The brothers drank no spirits in her louse, and all were perfectly friendly. .The Coroner, Laving reviewed the evidence, (he jury Teturr.ed a verdict of " Found drowned," but there was no evidence to show tow the accident occurred. ' •