A Shocking Affair.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 124, 10 September 1895, Page 2

A Shocking Affair.

There was laid upon the table of the

House of Representatives on Tuesday (the New Zealand Times reports) a report prepared by the Commissioner of Police upon the drowning of the boy MuUinsinthe Manawatu Biver on Good Friday last. Colonel Hume states that he arrivedat the following conclusions : " That some boys who were playing football near the Manawatu Kiver on Good Friday last were subjected to annoyance from some other boys on account of these boys stoning the footballers with catapults. That the deceased boy was one of the party who used the catapults, and that the footballers gave chase to the catapulters ; and that after going a little distance the deceased got off from the others and took to the river-bed. That when the footballers saw the boy Mullins on the river-bed they gave up chasing the other boys and went after him. That after he had gone along the river bank for some little distance he went -into the river, but probably finding it too wide and deep, as he could not swim, came out again, and going up the river bank, still pursued, jumped in where it was very narrow, as he saw escape from his pursuer? was hopeless, and owing to the lowness of the river at this point, he no doubt thought that, although he could not swim, yet by jumping over the deepest part he could reach the other side and be safe from molestation. When he got to the deep part, however, there was no doubt he sank and was drowned, and no attempt was made to save him. Those who were running after him when they saw he was drowning did nothing to try to save him, but evidently got frightened, and for appearance sake went back to their game of football. On their way home they met the other boys, and Ernest Gunn, aged over 15 years, who was captain of the footballers, directed all the boys assembled to say nothing of the accident, .but if anyone asked them about it, they were to tell the same yarn, viz., that Mullins got safely over the other side of the river. The conduct of William Murray and Alfred Bosted, who were only about 10 or 15 yards from the drowning lad, was most unnatural and reprehensible. The boy William Murray is about 16 years of age, a really good swimmer, who has been known to swim the river backwards and forwards five or six times at one bathing, and though Earnest Gunn suggested that he (Murray) should go in and try, to save his drowning companion, he actually stood there and saw him go down to a watery grave, without putting forth a hand to help. Alfred Bosted, who was a few yards further away from the drowning lad than Murray, appears not to have in any way helped the poor lad Mullins, but as Bodsted was away from Palmerston and could not appear before me, I refrain from making any comment upon his conduct." - Colonel Hume, in concluding his report, expresses the opinion that the sergeant of police at Palmerston did not use that diligence and exertion in ascertaining the circumstances surrounding the fatality that would be expected from an officer of his experience.