Tokirima History
A verdict of ''Accidental Drowning." 1945
A rare Coroner's enquiry
|
Tokirima History A verdict of ''Accidental Drowning." 1945 A rare Coroner's enquiry Recorded by Rosemary Corbett |
|
|
My introduction to Police Duty at a one man station From the Memories of Constable A.S. Ward who arrived in Ohura in October 1945 That first afternoon Mr Shute J.P. took me for a ride to Tokirima to examine the flooded area. We met several more men and decided to start and make a search party for a missing pig hunter, who had been missing since Sunday and this was Thursday. On the Friday a party went down to Tokirima and the flood had cleared. We got down to Mr McGregor's place and he informed me that wire netting had been stretched across the top side of a low level bridge. On examining the bridge and wire netting barricade it was only minutes before the body was recovered and moved into the Woolshed. This body was immediately identified as the missing man, Wally Huckle. The stream he was in, in ordinary circumstances would be about a foot deep, but owing to the heavy rain was turned into a raging torrent and the footbridge where he attempted to cross was well under water. When he got to the northern side of this bridge he stepped to one side, on what should have been a bank, alas he stepped into a washout and disappeared. His mates never saw him after that. I rang the Coroner at Taumarunui and he said, "'Sorry I cannot come out, my instructions won't allow me to travel that distance." I then communicated with the Sergeant Cosgrove of Taumarunui and he was no help, and could not advise me. He did say I would have to study the Act covering this situation and take it from there. I did so and eventually held an Inquest before Mr Penny JP and four other men, acting as a Jury, who after hearing evidence of the drowned man's two friends and my report, returned a verdict of ''Accidental Drowning." I put my report in accordingly and never heard anything more about it, so it must have been accepted. That is the first time I've heard of a Coroner's Hearing by a Justice of the Peace and a Jury and I have not heard of one since. These sudden deaths are usually held by appointed Coroners. So this was my introduction to Police Duty at a one man station. Ohura was often referred to as a sleepy hollow, but I never found it so in my five years of service there. As recorded by Rosemary Corbet and typed by Gail Gower – Aug 2005 |
|||
| E-mail us | |||
|
Whilst we believe this information to be correct we look to you, the reader, to comment and endorse, or reject, these historical details. E-mail us with comments please. Return to History Index - Time line or Return to Tokirima Home Page ©Tokirima Community Association 2005-------------------------------- WEBMASTER |
|||