DEATH AFTER CLIMB

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1931, Page 9

DEATH AFTER CLIMB

RETIRED SURVEYOR’S FATE. COLLAPSE; ON STEEP HILL. Te Arolia, April 27. The death of Mr. Edwm Henry Hardy, of Te Kuiti, aged 72, a retired occurred suddenly yesterday, following a heart seizure, while he was making an excursion into the hills at Waiorongomai. An inquest was held before Mr. J. Motley, district coroner, at Te Arolia to-day. Dr. L. G'. Cook said that at 2.30 p.m. yesterday, in answer to. a telephone call, he proceeded to Waiorongomai, and was shown the body of deceased on the side of a high hill. Taking into consideration the climb and deceased’s age, all symptoms pointed to death by overstrain, producing heart failure. Malcolm York Hardy, of Te Kuiti, son of deceased, said that with his fattier, brother and two other' nien s he left Te Kuiti for Waiorongomai, where his father had previously owned property. After visiting the old Bendigo battery, they proceeded up Butler’s Spur at a steady pace. The. country was broken and steep. On nearing the crest his father,, who had repeatedly assured them that he was all right, suddenly collapsed. In spite of restorative measures death ensued. Deceased was a robust man who had always enjoyed the best of health.

The coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony. Mr. Hardy, who was one of the early settlers of Te Kuiti, was on the first borough council, and later served for a term as Mayor. He always took a keen interest in the welfare of the town. He leaves a widow, one daughter and three sons. ........