BOY DROWNED IN MATAURA RIVER

Southland Times, Issue 23735, 6 February 1939, Page 8

BOY DROWNED IN MATAURA RIVER

RECOVERY OF BODY EFFORTS OF SEARCHERS COMMENDED The body of David Todd Hardie, aged 10, who was drowned near the Mataura bridge on January 26, was recovered shortly after noon on Saturday at a place known as McLellan’s beach, a few miles south of the town. The search party which found the body was the largest organized in the district for many years. Under the direction of Constable J. L. Brazier, of Mataura, several lorry loads of volunteers were posted at intervals along both sides of the river. The party was further strengthened by volunteers from the Brydone, Ota Creek, Wyndham and Edendale districts. Members of the Gore Boating Club also put boats at the disposal of Constable Brazier and it was estimated that several hundred men took part in the search. The body was discovered floating face downwards. I

The inquest -was held at Mataura the same evening, before Mr A. T. Newman, Coroner, and the verdict was that the child was accidentally drowned through falling into the Mataura river. The coroner commented on the danger of children playing near the river at this particular place, but added that even if a fence were erected children would probably climb it and run the risk of falling in just the same. He extended his sympathy to the relations and expressed his appreciation of the action of Constable Brazier and the searchers who assisted him in their consistent efforts during the past nine days to recover the body. He added that the action of Mr J. L. Richardson in his attempt to save the boy at the time of the tragedy was commendable, and it was unfortunate that his efforts did not meet with success. FALL OF 20 FEET Russell Spooner, a school boy,' aged nine years, living with his father in Kana street, said that on Thursday evening, January 26, he and David Todd Hardie and a little boy named Gregory McLennan had been weeding in Mrs Hardie’s garden in Kana street. Mrs Hardie gave each boy a penny to buy an ice cream. They went along the river to where Robb Hardie, a brother of David, was fishing. He told them to go away from the river, and told David to go home. They did not go straight home, but stopped and played on the river bank at Mac Gibbon’s. The witness did not go near the river, but David Hardie walked over near the edge of the bank and then got down on his stomach, crawled to the edge arid looked over into the water. In attempting to get to his feet he slipped on some wet ashes and disappeared over the edge, falling about 20 feet into the water. The witness ran along to the bridge and could see David Hardie in the water. He was swimming a little, but as he passed under the bridge he lost sight of him at the rapids. The river was in flood at the time, and was very swift. The safety rope at the bridge was not in the water. He then saw Richardson get into the river on the hotel side and go out on to the island where he tried to catch David as he came towards the island. He did not find the boy as he was caught into the current and carried past the Horticultural Hall. It would be just before 8 o’clock. There were not many people about. Evidence was given by John Liddell Richardson/ saddler of Mataura, who attempted a rescue from the island, and by members of the .search party.