VERDICT OF DROWNING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 279, 25 November 1943, Page 3

VERDICT OF DROWNING

MISSING SETTLER WHOSE BODY WAS NOT FOUND AUTHORITY GIVEN FOR INQUEST An inquest concerning the disappearance of a well-known settler of the Mangamahu district, Mr. George Collins, aged 61, who left his home, 35 miles from Wanganui, on the morning of May 12, stating that he was going for a walk across the paddocks, but was not seen again, was held before the coroner, Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., yesterday. In spite of an intensive search, in which neighbouring farmers and members of the Okoia Battalion of the Home Guard co-operated with the police, no trace of the body was found. Authority for the inquest to be held was given by the Attorney-General, acting under Section 3 of the Coroners’ Amendment Act, 1938. After hearing evidence the coroner said he was bound to find that deceased met his death in the Wangaeiru River by drowning at some time between 9.40 a.m. and 11 a.m. on May 12. “It may be suggested,” the coroner addea, “that there is no evidence to show that he was ever in the river, but that does not matter. The evidence makes it practically certain, as a matter ot proper inference, that he was drowned.” Reviewing the evidence, the coroner said he was struck by the similarity between this case and another where an application was made to the Supreme Court for leave to swear to death. The judgment given on that occasion was particularly instructive to coroners. •

“In cases of this nature, where a person disappears, there can only be two hypotheses—one that he voluntarily disappeared and the other that he met his death by some means, accident or otherwise,” said the coroner. “In this case deceased was a man in good health and a prosperous condition. He had no worries, financial or otherwise, and we may, therefore reject the hypothesis of voluntary disappearance. On the other hand there is a strong body of evidence that makes it practically certain as to how he met his death.”

Senior-Sergeant F. Culloty conducted the inquiry for the police, and Mr. A. A. Barton represented the executors of the estate. Mr. C. F. Treadwell appeared in a watching capacity for the Australian Mutual Provident Society. Robert Reese Dawson, engineer to the Wanganui County Council, said he assisted in the search for Mr. Collin* on May 27 and 28. Witness went to deceased’s home accompanied by two employees of the Wanganui Harbour Board and for 20 miles searched the Wangaehu River in boats. The rivex was low and conditions were favourable for the search, but no signs of the missing man was found. At a later date the boats were rowed down stream as far as Wangaehu, but again without result. In all, 40 to 50 miles of river were searched by boat “When I last saw deceased alive, about a fortnight before he disappeared, he was in his usual cheerful spirits,” witness added. “He was not the type of man to do away with himself.” In reply to the coroner, witness said the normal’late of flow of the Wangaehu River was four to.five miles an hour. The distance from deceased’s 'home to the mouth of the Wangaehu River was about 50 miles and an object floating on the surface would reach the sea in about 12i hours. The coroner: Between May 12 and Mav 27 had there been any exceptional conditions in the river? Witness: No.

In reply to a further question, witness said there were several deep pools in the river. Some were more than 15 feet in depth. He understood that there had been previous drowning accidents in the Wangaehu River. He believed that in one case the body was not recovered till 12 months later.

Gladys Collins, widow of the missing man, said she now resided at Taupo. At about 9.30 on the morning of May 12 her husband left home with the house dogs. He was dressed in his ordinary working clothes and said he was just going down the paddock. He remarked that he would not be long. She had not seen him since. It was some time later, about an hour, that she saw the dogs returning up the drive. Witness became anxious after looking around the paddocks without seeing any signs of her husband and called his brother Harold. Witness added that her husband was slightly deaf, but his health was quite good. She understood that his financial position was sound, and she knew of nothing that would cause him worry. In reply to Mr. Barton, witness said her husband generally wore glasses. He was accompanied by three dogs on the day he disappeared. It was not normal for the dogs to return without him.

A brother of the missing man, Harold H. Collins,. Mangamahu, said he was farming an adjacent property. Deceased had retired from farming five years ago, but on the outbreak of war and the consequent shortage of labour he felt he had to do something. He lived in Wanganui for a time, but later returned to his property. Witness last saw him alive on May 11. He was then in the best of health and spirits. Early on the afternoon of May 12 witness made a quick search of the house paddock and river bank, which ran on three sides of the property. Many organised searches were subsequently carried out and on the suggestion of the police wire-netting was placed across the river at three different points, spread over a distance of five miles from the deceased’s home. Witness added that he assumed his brother fell into the river and was accidentally drowned. in reply to Mr. Barton, witness said that had his brother walked along the road in any direction he would have been recognised by somebody. Witness, deceased and another brother, A. H. Collins, had farmed the Mangamahu property in partnership, which was in a sound financial position. Questioned by the coroner, witness said he knew of three drowning accidents in the district. One body had not been recovered and the remains of another were found several years later. The intensive search carried out was described by Constable H. H. Hudson, who said that deceased’s home was situated about 25 yards from the main road. Immediately opposite the house, and on the other side of the road, was a paddock of 25 acres bounded on three sides by the Wangaehu River. The sides of the paddock, in the direction of which deceased was last seen, sloped fairly steeply to the river, which flowed about 30 feet below. “At no place could we find any signs that would indicate that anybody had fallen into the river,” witness added. The river was low at the time and milky in colour, due to its sulphur content. Manv neighbouring farmers and their employees aided the search. The Okoia Battalion of the Home Guard also assisted and searched both banks of the Wangaehu River as far as the sea. There was no rain of any consequence for a period of three weeks after deceased's disappearance. There was every indication that Collins had no financial or domestic worries, and

r 4 i i all who had seen him up to the time of disappearance agreed that he had been in the best, of spirits. He was a very popular member of the farming community in the district. “The river is very swift, and I doubt that even a strong swimmer would be able to get but at that point, because of snags and rocks.” Constable Hudson said in answer to Mr. Barton. The coroner returned a verdict of drowning.