RIVERTON

Southland Times, Issue 24536, 10 September 1941, Page 8

RIVERTON

BOROUGH COUNCIL At the meeting of the Riverton Borough Council the Mayor (Dr N. G. Trotter) and Crs W. E, Diack, A. T. Hogg, J. H. Dawson, A. D. Mclvor, J. Crawford and E. S. Fossey were present.

The Minister of Defence wrote in reply to the council’s recommendation for a military camp and said that the position regarding the holding of the annual camp of the Ist Battalion, Southland Regiment at Riverton this year remained the same as indicated in his letter of March 17, 1941. Should it be decided at a later date to hold the annual camp of this particular unit in the Southland district, a site at Riverton would be considered by the military authorities on its merits. The Mayor referred to the absurdity of emergency lighting precautions when the Railway Department had a big light which could be seen almost to Stewart Island. It was decided to request the Railways Department to comply with the regulations. LAUNCH TRAGEDY The adjourned inquest into the death of Horace W. R. Anderson was held in the Riverton Courthouse before the acting coroner, Mr J. Crawford, J.P., the jury being Messrs J. A. Lee (foreman), G. W. McNaughton, H. C. Johnstone and J. W. Clarke. Albert Austin, farmer, Wakapatu, stated that about 10 a.m. on August 25 he saw a boat in the bay that appeared to be fishing. On looking at the boat again a few minutes later he saw that it was heading straight for the beach. He ran down and saw that the boat was aground. He sang out, and on getting no reply jumped aboard. The door leading to the engine room was shut; the engine was still running, but stopped soon after he went aboard. In the engine room he saw Anderson, who had apparently fallen back from a seat in front of the steering wheel. Austin thought that he was suffering from the fumes and dragged him to the cockpit of the boat to get fresh air for him. The door of the engine room was shut and the room smelt strongly of fumes. Evidence was also given by Albert E. J. Reece and Ernest J. Hogg. Dr E. S. Fossey stated that a post mortem examination of the body indicated in his opinion that deceased had met his death by inhalation of a poisonous quantity of carbon monoxide gas, which was known to occur to a lethal degree in -the gases of petrol engines. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased met his death by inhalation of carbon monoxide fumes in the cabin of his boat. SOLDIER ENTERTAINED At a recent meeting of the Riverton Red Cross Society the committee entertained Private D. Neilson and bis mother, Mrs C. Neilson, to afternoon tea. Private Neilson, who was severely wounded in Greece, was evacuated to Egypt and subsequently returned home to New Zealand: Mention was made of bis gallant services by the president of the branch, Mrs H. J. Walden, and a small gift, was given to him. MALE CHOIR CONCERT The Invercargill Male Choir gave a most enjoyable concert in the Empire Theatre in aid of. the patriotic funds.

Dr S. V. Brown was the conductor and Mr Charles Martin was at the piano. The singing by the choir was delightful and was thoroughly enjoyed by those present. Items were also given by Mr F. Lange, Mrs E. K. Mills and Messrs W. H. Farley, C. E. Hawes, L. Adamson, Roy and Paterson.