LAKE PURIMU TRAGEDY

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 116, 11 May 1932, Page 5

LAKE PURIMU TRAGEDY

« ■ Inquest Conduced Today

ACCIDENTALEY DROWNED “DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE” The inquest into the circumstances of the death of James George Syme and Allan David Syme was continued to-day, Mr. E. J. Turner, J.P., presiding, with the following jury: Messrs. M. Murphy (foreman), H. Beachen, J. McLean, and P. Madson.

John Francis Syme, farmer, of Te Uri, gave evidence that he saw his brothers, the deceased, between 5 and 5.30 o’clock on the morning of May 2. George Olsen was with him at the time on the shore of Lake Purimu. It was practically dark. James and Allan Syme were out about 30 yards from the shore in their boat and were rowing toward the centre of the lake. No conversation took place between witness and deceased. There'•was only a slight breeze blowing—not sufficient to make the lake dangerous. Both the deceased had had some experience of duck-shoot-ing on the lake. Witness did not see the deceased again.

Charles Pike, employed at Lake Station, Wanstead, said that he knew the two deceased as boys, but had not seen them for several years.

On the morning of Alay 2, the weather was boisterous at the station, but witness was not at the lake. About 6 p.m. he heard that there had been an accident on the lake, and the following morning, about 4.30 o’clock, he arrived at the lake with the intention of recovering the bodies. He procured a boat and grappling irons, and, for about an hour, dragged over the course he thought the deceased had taken on their way to the “hide.” Finding this unsuccessful he commenced dragging from “the hide” to another point. Almost immediately he recovered the body of James Syme, which he took ashore about 5 a.m. Continuing his search he found the sunken boat nearby the same place, about half a chain from “the hide.” The depth of the water was about 10 feet. Continuing the search, he located the other body, but was unable to secure it. The two bodies were about six feet apart. At 9 o’clock, Constable Aloss, of Porangahau, and others arrived with a boat and a drag-net, by means of which the second body veas recovered within five or ten minutes. Both the deceased were fully dressed, James wearing an oilskin overcoat, leggings, heavy

boots, and a shooting jacket containing ammunition. He also wore on his back a bag containing 100 rounds of ammunition. Allan was clothed similarly. Tn the boat were a double-barrelled gun and a bag of cartridges. In reply to the jury, witness said that the bag of ammunition, carried by James, weighed about 201bs. In his opinion the boat had not capsized but had sunk. He considered the boat was quite seaworthy for one man, but that it had been overloaded. “I think that they overran “the hide” in the dark and that when they turned the boat was swamped," he said. Constable’s Testimony Constable R. H. Moss, Porangnluiu. said that on May 2 he assisted to drag the lake for the bodies of the deceased. The body of Allan was recovered. There were no marks of injury. Continuing’, witness corroborated the evidence given by the previous witness regarding the way in which the deceased was dressed.

‘'ln. my opinion,” said witness, "the deceased would have no chance of saving his life once he was in the water, owing to the weight of clothing and ammunition he was carrying.” Constable J. Butler said that. in. the pocket of James Syme, he found a watch which had stopped at 6.35 o’clock. This indicated that the accident occurred about this time. There were no marks of violence on the bodies. Accidental Drowning The jury returned the following verdict:— That both ■‘he deceased were accidentally " -wn'" 1 at Lake Purimu on Mr/' 2, while out duckshooting.”