DROWNING ACCIDENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 199, 26 August 1935, Page 6

DROWNING ACCIDENT

TURAKINA FATALIfY TRIBUTE TO SEARCHERS A tribute to the unceasing efforts of the Alarton police and of the settlers in the district to recover the body of George Hooper, aged 25, who was drowned in the Turakina River on July 8, was paid by the coroner, Air F. C. Wilson, at the inquest held ou Friday. Mr Wilson particularly commended the survives of James Hooper, brother of deceased, who searched the river constantly. “You performed a public duty,’’ he said. James Hooper, brother of deceased, gave, evidence of identification, lie said he found the body on August 20. a mile from where the unfortunate man had endeavoured to ford rhe river. Alargery Al. C. Baldwin said that she last, saw deceased on the morning uf July 8. He was going to get his horse preparatory to crossing the river. John E. C. Varley, manager for Mrs Baldwin, said he had engaged deceased in Ma\ last, as a general farmhand. Part of his duties took him a-Toss the river. On the morning of July 8 he had worked on the other side of the river, but uituess’ attention was drawn to the Hooded state and he did all in his power to prevent deceased crossing. He went to the cliff to stop him and he then discovered the riderless horse a few chains down from the ford. There was a log in the river which indicated a safetv mark, and the log was not visible and the river dangerous. There had been no local rain, the flooded state of the river being due to rain inland. Deceased, witness continued, was not a swimmer, but, he was a good rider. He presumed the horse must have stumbled. He reported the matter and assisted in the Constable Baskin said that with < onstable Alsop and -villing neighbours he conducted a search for the body. He referred in appreciative terms to the services of the settlers. The coroner ’commented as referred to above and delivered a verdict "That George Hooper was nccidontally drowned in the flooded Turakina River on July 8. 1935.” He expressed his with the relatives.