OHAWE POOL TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1931, Page 10

OHAWE POOL TRAGEDY

NICOLSON’S BODY RECOVERED.

CORONER’S INQUIRY ADJOURNED.

Following the recovery of the body of William Nicolson, who yesterday morning was reported as missing, from the depths of the Ohawe pool, an inquest was opened yesterday before Mr. R. S. Sage, coroner, at Hawera. After formal evidence of identification the inquiry was adjourned. operations failed, io locate the body yesterday morning. A number iof swimmers then dived into the pool, Mr. M. R. Nelson, secretary of the Hawera Swimming Club, eventually locating it in about 20 feet of water. There were apparently no signs of injury caused by the dead man having struck his head against rocks. A youth is stated to have inspired the first search for Mr.-Nicolson about 3 p.m. He saw the man sink, though apparently not in difficulties. As no body was found it was concluded that the swimmer had merely been swimming under the water.

Police information is to the effect that there are no suspicious circumstances. The pool at Ohawe is a particularly safe one. It is about 20 yards long by about 12 yards wide. The depth varies down to 20 feet. The bottom is smooth, with a few rocks round the edges. With a number of swimmers in it .the pool is considered as safe as swimming baths. There has been' a little criticism that the swimmers did not actually discover the fatality during the afternoon. This would have been scarcely possible, as no definite alarm at that time had been raised. In any case, it is pointed out, had their efforts revealed the body they would have been too late to have done anything for the unfortunate man. UNUSUAL INTEREST EVINCED. SWIMMING DEVICE AT HAWERA. Unusual interest has been evinced in the device' -to teach swimming that has recently been’ installed at the .Hawera baths. The latest inquiry has been that of a Masterton High School teacher, Mr. Don, who made a special trip from Palmerston North to inspect the apparatus. . The inventor, Mr. J. Dowdle, custodian of the baths, arranged a demonstration. Three girls, who had." had bitt a few days’ practice, made crossings of the baths unaided and went down the chute without fear. A small boy, whose height could be measured in inches, also made a brave crossing. The ■ Hawera Swimming Club’s delegate to the centre meeting at New Plymouth to-night has been instructed to advocate the installation of the device at all baths in the province. Inquiries have also been received from the Devonport Club, Auckland. Large numbers of country people visited the •baths on Saturday last and several haye made arrangements for their children to be taught swimming. WAVERLEY WOMEN’S INSTITUTE. ■ TRAVELLING' ORGANISER’S VISIT. The travelling organiser of the Women’s Institute, Miss Stopes, was present at the Waverley Institute meeting on Friday, the first meeting of the year. The president, Mrs. Anderson, introduced Miss Stopes, who gave an interesting and instructive address on the work in New Zealand and other parts of the world. Miss Stopes had with her a fine selection of work done by different institutes and pointed out that really beautiful articles could be made inexpensively. 1 Miss Gladys Beer sang two songs which, were much appreciated. Afternoon tea was served and three new members enrolled.

Miss Stopes expects to be in the outlying districts for some time and hopes to form new branches. DEATH OF MR. T. ROBSON. EARLY SETTLER IN 92ND YEAR. The death occurred at Normanby yesterday morning of Mr. Thomas Robsbn in his 92nd year. Though Mr. Robson had been in ill-health for some time, he had been able to get about until recently. After saw-milling for a considerable time at Ketemarae in 1875, Mr. Robson took up land at Te Roti, where he farmed for the greater part of his life, being long associated with his brother, Mr. James Robson. He retired to Normanby, where ,he resided until his death. In 1883 Mr. Robson canvassed the district and as a result was able to found the Normanby Horticultural Society. Throughout his 48 years’ association with the show he was most keen for its success and annually gave gither a trophy or a cash prize. The funeral will take place to-day at the Waihi (Normanby) cemetery. ffI;PERSONAL ITEMS. Mr. F. Mills, junr., left by train yesterday morning for Levin, where he will judge the Ayrshire section at the Horowhenua show. Mr. and Mrs. Antoni Bonetti has returned to Hawera after a holiday in Westland. OPERA HOUSE TALKIES. “ON YOUR BACK” TO-NIGHT. Imagine nursing a cold for three weeks —and getting paid for it. Charlotte Henry was required .to sniffle, sneeze, blow her nose and otherwise give a perfect imitation of a bad cold all through her scenes in “On Your Back,” Fox movietone drama of life in a fashionable modiste’s shop, which comes to the Opera House to-night at 8.15 p.m. and finally to-morow night. Irene Rich portrays the dressmaker who rose to the heights through ambition for her son. From a lowly dressmaker’s room on New York’s East Side, she moves from shop to shop. until she has the most fashionable and exclusive establishment on Fifth Avenue. The cast also includes such well-known names as H. B. Warner, Raymond Hackett, Marion Shilling, Ilka Chase and Wheeler Oakman, with Guthrie McClintic as director. The great all-talking, war-time satire, “Splinters,” which will be shown at the Grand Theatre to-night and finally to-morrow night, is not only a talking picture triumph, but it is a tribute to bum an nature.