WHAKA TRAGEDY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 498, 21 July 1932, Page 5

WHAKA TRAGEDY

INQUEST CONCLUDED NO DELAY DISCLOSED IN DESPATCHING AMBULANCE The inquest concerning the death of Edward Roy Baxter, who was fatally scalded at Whakarewarewa on July 2„ was resumed by Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., on Tuesday morning at Rotorua for the purpose of clearing up apparent discrepancies in regard to the actual time of the accident. The first witness called was Dr. W. S. Wallis, who said that so far as he could recollect he received a telephone call about 1 or 1.30 a.m., and at once rang up lor the ambulance. William Frank Powell, garage attendant at the R.M. Transport Garage, said he received a ring from Dr. Wallis at 1.15 a.m. and was on the road with the ambulance five minutes later. He passed a car on the way out to Whaka, near the aerodrome, and on arrival at the pa was told that a car had left with the injured man. Lawrence Denaher, contractor, said he reached the dance hall at 12 midnight and saw Baxter and Cyril Smith in the hall. Two or three minutes after, these two men left the hall; the last dance was called, and lasted about ten minutes. He had just gone outside the hall at 12.30, when he heard the screams and ran toward the pool. Three people were with deceased. On partially removing the man's clothes they found he was badly scalded. Smith rang up a car and one of the eM |vnn»jit r—-\ P v."'■

ter, which tliey rubbed on the man's body, and he was then removed by car.

Gladys G. Kerr, a domestic employed at Brent's, said she went with three other girls, Baxter and Smith to the dance at Whaka after the pictures. She was not. sure of the time Baxter left the hall to order supper and said she was not aware of the accident until informed of it. The pictures came out about 10.30, and it took about 10 minutes to collect deceased and Smith. They had had several dances before deceased went, to order supper, and several while he was away. There had been no drinking at the party. Need for Protection Mr. Paterson found that deceased met. his death through shock caused by falling into a hot pool. He further held that situated as it was the pool was a danger and in conjunction with the raised water pipe constituted a trap, which should be fenced by the local authority in control. The matter of times had been cleared up satisfactorily. Apparently Smith had been confused and there had been no delay in sending the ambulance.