THE BOAT ACCIDENT AT SCARROT'S

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 166, 7 October 1892, Page 2

THE BOAT ACCIDENT AT SCARROT'S

THE INQUEST. An inquest was held at the Aratapu hotel on Friday last, before Mr T. Webb, Coroner, and the following jury,—Messrs Chadwick (foreman), "Vousden, Barbour, A. Webb, Ogilvie, and T. Nield, on the body of Arthur David Mead. Jesse Mead, the brother of deceased, recognised the body as that of Arthur David Mead, whom he last saw alive on Sunday, September 18th, at his own house at Scarrott’s. He knew nothing of the accident himself but heard of his brother’s loss on the 23rd ult. Deceased was a storeman employed by Captain Seymour and was twency-nine years of age. He had been in colony about nine years ; he leaves two boys and one girl with their mother. He saw the boat on the day after the accident; the mast was standing up, just above the water. We found the main sheet cast loose, also the peak halliards, hut the latter had got foul in the block. Joseph Seymour, a master marriner residing at Scarrot’s said the deceased had been in his employ since March 2nd last. He lef t Scarrott’s on Wednesday, the 21st ultimo for Tangai, ten miles down the river. He was in company with a man named Shireff. They went down in my boat to attend the store at Tangai. The boat was about 25 feet long, 7ft 6in in beam, and 3ft Gin in draught; I have had tons in her. Deceased was in charge of the boat and was to bring gum back. He was a very fair boatman for a novice, but had instructions never to leave shore when there was any boisterous wind. I first heard ®f the accident to the boat on the 23rd, and X immediately went down in a steamer. I saw the mast about nine feet out of water about thirty feet from the shore. We raised the boat and saw that the jib sheet was made fast on the starboard side. There were seven part bags of gum in the boat, four ewt of stone, and a sack barrow. I found the body of deceased ashore on the east side of the river, about two miles from the Awaroa creek, the river being nearly two miles wide at that part. Deceased had on a shirt, waistcoat, pants, and drawers. I searched the body and found the watch produced, a knife, a cheque for £3, and change to the amount of thirty-nine shillings in a purse in the left trouser’s pocket, and in the right pocket I found 4s Gd in change. Deceased I learned left Tangai with 21 cut of gum in the boat, on Thursday, the 22nd ult. The day was very boisterous and I did not think it was a fit day to start away on and did not expect them. Deceased was a sober man aud a fair tnrkwneiv As far m I leans no os® saw

the accident. Deceased left Scarrott’s with between twenty and thirty pounds of my money and I indentify the bags produced, containing the cheque and mouey as my property.

On Monday an inquest was held in the same place on the body of John Chntton Shirefs, which had been found near the Kaipara Heads on Saturday. The body was identified} as that of Sherifs, who had been, with the deceased Mead in Captain Seymour’s boat. The evidence was similar to that given, above and the only verdict the Jury could arrive at was Found Drowned. Deceased was a young man of only 26 years of age aud was born in England; ha is said to be a surveyor and very respectably connected. He only arrived in this colony about six weeks ago from -Australia. The Coroner informed Captain Seymour that he had not acted wisely in searching the body of Mead ; that duty should have been left to the police. A person finding a body should secure it if theie was any likelihood of it getting away and at once inform the police.