DROWNED IN THE ORETI

Southland Times, Issue 23389, 22 December 1937, Page 7

DROWNED IN THE ORETI

INQUEST ON TWO BOYS

VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH An inquest into the death of two youths, Henry Dale, aged 16 years, and Mervyn Cook, aged 18, who were drowned in the Oreti river on December 17, was held before the Coroner (Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M.) yesterday. Sergeant O’Shea conducted the proceedings for the police. William Robertson Macaskill, farm labourer, Wallacetown, employed by Bertram Cook, said that about 1.10 p.rn. on December 17 he went to the Oreti river, about 24 chains from Mr William Cook’s house, with the two boys. Both boys undressed and went into the river about 1.45 p.m.- The witness saw Dale’s head go down and come up. Dale called fo.’ help but witness did not realize he was in danger. Cook was alongside him. “I saw Dale’s head go down and come up again” said the witness, “but I did not think they were in difficulties, or I would have gone to their help.” He added that he sat down on the bank by their clothes and that was the last he saw of them, as they had gone out of sight around the bend. Hunter Macaskill arrived and he said he would so for a swim too. The witness told him the boys were round the bend of the river. . “I remained on the river till about three o’clock,” said the witness, who added that he was still in sight of the clothes on the bank. He did not realize even then that something had happened. He and Hunter Maccaskill then went for a walk down the river, but did not pass the clothes again. Witness mentioned to his employer that Dale had not been home and that he had seen them in the river swimming. He had never at any time realized that the boys were drowned.. Hunter Ryan Macaskill said he had gone to the river for.a swim and he heard Henry Dale call out for help. He saw Mervyn further down the river. “I thought Henry was fooling,” the witness said. “I saw Mervyn Cook walk into the water about five yards from him, but I saw nothing further. I started talking to my brother and when I looked up again I saw neither of them. I did not realize they might have been drowned and thought no more about them.”

“Did you not wonder where the boys had disappeared to?” asked Sergeant O’Shea. Witness: No. You never thought any more about them?—No.

The witness said he knew Mervyn Cook could swim, but was not sure about Henry Dale. He would be 100 yards from the boys when he saw them, and they were swimming round the bend from where he was. When he lost sight of them he thought they were round the bend. The Coroner returned a verdict that Henry Dale was accidentally drowned while bathing and that Mervyn Cook was accidentally drowned while trying to save Dale.

CAPSIZE OF BOAT IN MAKAREWA

The Coroner (Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M.) also conducted an inquest into the death of Martin Padget, who was drowned in the Oreti river on December 4.

Evidence was given by Joseph Joshua Royle Sherlock, who was in the boat with Padget. At the junction of the Makarewa river Padget pulled across from the east side to the west, and gave an extra hard pull with the right-hand bar when the boat was near the shallow water, capsizing the boat. The witness, who could not swim, struggled exhausted to the bank and did not see Padget again. It was the extra pull that capsized the boat. Padget was wearing knee gum boots at the time.

Peter Patrick Calhane, who was in a boat with Gavin Oughton, eight or nine yards ahead of Padget, Constable Mcßae and Dr W. J. Barclay also gave evidence, and the Coroner returned a verdict of accidental drowning.