GIRLS KILLED IN FALL OVER CLIFF

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 342, 28 August 1933, Page 8

GIRLS KILLED IN FALL OVER CLIFF

o Verdict at Inquest Hastings, Aug. 25. That the two girls died from injuries received through accidentally falling down a cliff was the verdict returned by the jury at the conclusion of the inquest into the deaths of Esina Flora Hunter and Gertrude Jean Hart, who were killed at Puketitiri on’ Wednesday. Joyce Kathleen Hunter, aged eight years, sister of one of the deceased, said that on Wednesday morning the two little victims and herself left their uncle’s home to go to the river, about two miles away. They all walked together and were looking for a track to go down toward the river. Gertie and Esina each found the track and witness followed Gertie, who slipped in some loose shingle and went out of sight. Witness went to Esma and told her Gertie had disappeared, and Esina went to where Gertie had slipped. Witness did not see Esma slip. When they did not come back witness told her elder cousin and later her uncle.

Ethel Irene English, cousin of the little girls, said the children wanted to go out and play, and she told them they must not go beyond the hay paddock, which is beside the house. The little girl Joyce some time later told her Gertie and Esma had disappeared, and witness went back with Joyce to the spur she had pointed out. Witness climbed down into the river, but could not see the children, so she returned home and informed her father. All three children had visited the farm before, and were aware of the locality of the river, but had never been over the spot where the accident occurred.

Edward Herbert English, manager of the Papaututu station, said he was working about three miles from the house on Wednesday morning. At lunch time he met Joyce, and she informed him that Esma and Gertie had gone to the river and fallen. Witness searched the dill's but found no trace of the girls, so he went down to the river, and after a long search found them lying at the foot of the cliff. Both were dead. Ho had always warned the girls never to leave the house without someone being with them.

The jury then returned 'ts verdict.