DEATH OF A ROADMAN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13307, 17 February 1914, Page 7

DEATH OF A ROADMAN.

BEER AND A BOAT. (Per Press Association.) WANGANUI, last night. Extraordinary evidence wu-s given at an inquest to-day touching the death of a .roadman named' Bert Jones, who was drowned m the river at Kaiwhaiki on Tuesday la-st. Timothy Hogau stated that deceased and he, who were engaged m roadmak- | ing, walked to the Opokongavui hotel, Avhere they stayed till noon. They had four or five long beers and they took away with them three bottles of beer and one bottle of whisky, some of which they drank on the way tb wimp. They reached a point on the river opposite to th© camp about 4.45 and called for a canoe. A boy brought one across, but Hogan refused to enter it, thinking fhe craft -unsafe. Jones, however, went m jjthe canoe, which he rocked till it capsized. The boy swam ashore to get assistance for Jones, who was getting on the bottom of the upturned canoe, but When -he returned Jones had sunk. A police constable said ho had made enquiries at the hotel, and was satisfied that the men were sober when they left there. A half -filled bottle of whisky was found on tlie body. 'The Coroner returned ' a verdict that deceased was accidentally drowned through, his own recklessness while under the influence of drink.