DEATH BY DROWNING

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1931, Page 10

DEATH BY DROWNING

FATALITY ON TE WERA FARM. INQUEST HELD BY CORONER. The facte relating to the death of Eric , Norman Bailey, 17-year-old employee of . Robert Thomson, farmer, Te Wera, were inquired into by the coroner, Mr. W. L. . Kennedy, yesterday. Bailey was drowned while bathing on Sunday in a dam on Mr. Thomson’s property; It appeared to be a case of pure accident, said Mr. Kennedy, who returned a verdict of accidental death. Francis Eolyn Bailey, labourer of • Stratford and father of deceased, gave evidence of identification. He said he last saw the boy alive about a fortnight ago when he stated that he had a comfortable home and a good job. Witness did not know whether his son had been able to swim. The boy had always enjoyed good health. Fanny Thomson, wife of Robert Thomson, stated that Bailey had been employed on their farm for five months. At 11.15 a.m. on Sunday she saw him leave the house with a bathing suit and a towel. Witness understood he intended to bathe in a dam across the paddock and she warned him not to do so unless there were someone with him. He had previously been warned of the danger of bathing in the dam, in which a boy had once been drowned. Bailey replied that “lie would meet the boss up the paddock." The lad was evidently keen on his intended swim and witness thought he would meet her husband. When Bailey failed to return for lunch Mr. Thomson went to look for him. Bailey had given them to understand that he could swim a few strokes. On his farm was a dam originally formed to work a water wheel, said Robert Thomson. The dam was very deep in the centre and was dangerous to anyone who could not swim well. He had warned Bailey of the danger of bathing there and he had intimated that any time he desired to swim there he would ask witness to accompany him. On Sunday witness left the house where Bailey was then and crossed the paddocks. About 12.45 p.m. when he reI turned to lunch Bailey was absent. Calls I failed to elicit any reply, so when his i wife told him that the boy had gone to j the. dam witness, went there and found ' Bailey’s clothing on the bank of the dam. Witness procured the assistance of neighbours and commenced to drag the dam. The body was recovered at '3 p.m. in seven or eight feet of water. ■ The body was dressed in a swimming J suit. The bank of the dam shelved out gradually for a short distance and then 1 dropped suddenly into deep water. It 1 was just outside that bank that the body I was found. ’ Constable Hargreaves described how he went to Te Wera on Sunday in response £ to a message. Mr. Thomson showed him ( the body on the 'bank of the dam. There 5 were no external marks of violence on c the body. i ,

BOROUGH ELECTRICAL SUPPLY. NO STOPPAGES DURING AUGUST. There had been no interruptions of supply and no stoppages had occurred on the low tension side, reported the electrical engineer, Air. A. E. Aloss, to the Stratford Borough Council last night. Units purchased for August had been 216,800 he added, making a total of 686,600 for the quarter just ended, as compared with 625,600 for the corresponding period of 1930. The peak reached had been 470 on 10 k.v.a. over that of 1930. A third phase wire had been strung out on Opunake Road West to supply a milking installation motor, and several jobs of pole regulation, rendered necessary by street improvement, had been attended to. The crusher motor had been connected and livened up. Other load increases consisted of two dwellings connected, one with range and water, and a few wireless points. •The revenue account showed: Outstanding at the beginning of the month, £235, ( £2Bl last year); gross, £1644 (£1644); discount, £4lO (£363); cash, £1244 ( £1285); outstanding at the end of the month, £224 (£277). MANGAMINC-I NEWS. i Ono of the largest attendances this season was present at the euchre party held at Alangamingi Hall to aid the hall funds. The prize-winners were Mr. H. L. Lodge 1, Air. Price (consolation); Airs. H. L. Lodge 1, Mrs. L. Barnard (consolation). A dance followed, Air. P. Brown being master of ceremonies. The ladies served refreshments. As the result of a few warm days grass is growing splendidly. Docking is in full swing and a good percentage of lambs is being counted. Mrs. W r . Hardwick Smith has been on a visit to Wellington.