CORONER'S INQUEST.

Wellington Independent, 6 January 1860, Page 1

CORONER'S INQUEST.

A Coroner's inquest was held yesterday at Uie Crown and Anchor, before Mask Kebbell, Esq., her Majesty's Coroner for this district, and a highly respectable Jury, on view of the body of one John Grahame, late a fireman on board S. S. Airedale, who was accidentally drowned curly on Wednesday morning last, by the swamping of a boat in which he and two others tried to reach their vessel on the morning in question. His companions saved themselves by swimming. The following evidence was adduced *. —

Abraham Laird, being duly sworn, stated, I am a fireman on board ..the Airedale; early on Weduesday morning, a' man by the name of Liddell, deceased, and myself, left the Company's wharf in a boat which did not belong to us, ours having beeu taken by some one on board a schooner uamed the Zillah ; I believe when we left the wharf there was a good deal of water in the boat, one man was sitting in the middle of the boat sculling ; when about 200 or 300 yards from the wharf she took a bit of a roll and shipping a good deal of water she went down under it; Liddell and I immediately left the boat (deceased remained in it) and swam a shore ; I could uot say whether deceased was silting or standing at the time ; I did not hear any cries for assistance.

By the Jury: We had been a shore about au hour aud a half, we had had a glass or two but were not drunk; we thought tbe boat would have curried us safely and would have done so had it uot been full of water; we were all larking; no otber boats were near the wharf when we left ; lam quite sure deceased was sober ; our own was a large boat with oars to pull it, the boat we were in had not anything to bail the water with.

Hobeii- Lidde-i,, being duly sworn, stated it was ahout one o'clock on Wednesday morning last I left Plimmer's wharf in company with the deceased ; at first five of us were in the boat, but two being frightened jumped out being afraid ; about 200 yards from the end of the wharf as I was sculling she rolled aud filled ; I left the otber boat two men being in her; I heard a voice but could not distinguish what was said ; but saw no more of deceased ; it was not our boat we were in, ours having been taken away from the wharf; I never thought about the plug of tbe boat being in or out; deceased was quite sober, there was no quarrelling iv the boat. By the Juuy,— l came ashore about 8 o'clock in the evening ; I fell in with the deceased about 10 o'clock, we took a walk round the town and had a glass or two, but were not drunk ; I reported the accident to Mr. Boyd about ten minutes past two, that h immediately after I swam ashore, I was pretty nigh exhausted ; I believed that deceased could swim, but lie had a big monkey jacket on at the lime of the accident.

William Habris, being duly sworn, stated I am a private in the Armed Police Force ; I was on dutyjast Wednesday morning, when I beard a noise in Mr. Miller's kitchen. Cemmer. cial Hotel, on waking Mr. Miller, we found two men belonging to the Airedale there, wko told me that they had their boat upset, that they had swam ashore, but they did not think that a third man who was with them had got ashore, but they were afraid he was drowued ; I made no inquiries uud took no further «teps whatever beyond taking these two men to Boyd's L dging House , and reporting the cirouinstaucec next induing to the corporal. By the Jury, — I was not asked to look for their comrade, all they said was I wonder where poor Howdy is gone, they gave rae no information whatever about him; it was dark and the men seemed pretty near exhausted ; I have a wbistle and a rattle ; all the watermen's boats were hauled up att bat hour.

This witness was severely c insured by the Coroner for his apathy in this matter. John OsnoRNE, beiug diily sworn, stated, I am a private in, the Armed Polioe Force here — stated, about five or six o'clock thuTraonmi£ at

'ow tide, I found the body of deceased opposite;*' this house, it had bccu left ou the beach by thu * tide.'

This being all the evidence, after the Cornor had said a few woids tv the Jury, they without retiring rtHurneJ the fojltiwing'verdiet — "We find that the deceased John Grahame war) ac- ' • otdetUiillj drown. ;d by the swamping Ufa boat,'* adding a rider to the effect, that they strongly x reprehended the conduct uf the policeman Harris in not evincing «i'r«;i ter activity in (jiving information oi the acuideut or seeking for assistance.