INQUEST AT WAINUI.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18804, 28 November 1932, Page 8

INQUEST AT WAINUI.

DROWNING OF CHILD. MAORI RECOVERS BODY. An inquest was held at Wainui, Raglan, on Saturday by Mr S. Pelham, coroner, concerning the death of Athol James Pooley, aged 7 years, James I’ooley, father of the boy, Athol James Pooley, said the boy was aged 6 years and‘lt months. Deceased could not swim, but used to go into the water with other children. When he arrived at Ihe scene, Dr. Mulcock and others were applying artificial respiration, but without success. Lynsie Margaret Pegler, aged 7 years, said that on Friday afternoon she left school with deceased and Dorothy Cowley. They went to bailie in the creek at Wainui. Athol jumped into a hole in the creek. He tried to talk. He came up twice then went down. When lie did not como up again she ran for help. At first siie thought lie was only playing. Dorothy May Cowley, aged 7 years, said that when they went in to bathe Athol jumped into a deep hole saying lie could dive. Siie told him It was dangerous. She did not sec him come up again. Siie went for help and told a Maori man that Athol was under Hie water. The Maori told her to ring up and gel Mr Pooley. Tommy Walinriga said on November 25 lie saw two little girls on the bridge. They told him young Pooley was drowned. He asked them to show him Ihe place, and tie look off some of Ids clothes and jumped After about a quarter of an hour lie recovered the body. He liiouglit the child was dead when lie got him out. it was a tidal creek and the tide was just lurning to come in. There was a depth of about 8 feet of water in the creek at the time. The eoroner returned a verdict of accidental drowning.

In connection with Iho accident it is pointed oul dial the Maori, T. Walianga, did a very brave tiling in recovering the body. In his evidence lie said it was well-known by the Maoris that a laniwlia lived in Ihe ilcs']' hole, and was responsible for Ihe drowning. By Ihe manner in which in' gave evidence it could he seen dial he really believed in Ihe laniwlia, yet despite his fears of Ihe Hipernaltinil lie jumped in, and remained in until lie had recovered the body.