INQUEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 27

INQUEST.

An inquest as to the death of Thomas Johtt» gtone, who was drowned on the Ist inst. off thi Quarantine Island, was held in the courthouse, Port Chalmers, on the 13th, before Mr EJ H. Carew, coroner, and a jury of sis, of whom Mr W. Kettle was elected foreman. William Brown, a seaman of the s.s. Roto* kino, stated that on the Ist inst., in company with the deceased Thomas Johnstone, he en»' gaged a boat for the purpose of having a day'a shooting at Portobello. When abreast of tha Quarantine Island the boat grounded. Witness* and deceased undressed and got the boat afloat; and as the weather was very warm they, decided to have a swim. The water waa deeper than they anticipated, and they both' swam on the starboard side of the boat. Johnstone dived twice, and witness thought he. wa< enjoying himself, when suddenly he called out; Good-bye, Bill," and disappeared. Witness dived for him, and saw his heel, but the strong undercurrent not only carried deceased's body away, but nearly carried witness with it. Deceased was about 2£^ years of age, was a native of Ireland, and had been some years in tht: 'service of the U.S.S. Company. E. M. Moss, master of the ferry steamer TaTewai, deposed that he had noticed deceased and his mate swimming alongside their boal on Saturday lasjt. Witness called out to them, " You are having a good time." They replied, "Yes,.we are." • Alexander Abernethy, a boy 11* years ol(?, deposed to finding the body in" the Lowa£ Harbour; and Police Constable David HannaJ fin stated that he had recovered the body abov£ high-water mark.-

The Jury returned a verdict of " Accidentally drowned."