“Mr W. E. Searle. was acting-coroner at an inquest held yesterday afternoon concerning the death of Frederick George Kelly by drowning in the Kakanui River on Wednesday. The jury consisted of Messrs Norman Lory (Windsor), Harry Davis (Windsor), John Howard (Windsor), Edward Stokes (Windsor, foreman), Donald Fleming (Windsor), and Andrew Halcrow (Ngapara). Frederick Kelly, a farmer of Queen's Flat, the deceased's father, stated that, the deceased was a trooper in the 11^th Reinforcements, 20 years of age, home on his final leave. On March 15th he, his son and friends were at Maruakoa, and went for a bathe in the Kakanui. His son could not swim. Having swum about a little, witness felt fatigued, and made for the bank, but he heard Mr H. Addison call out that his son was drowning. He plunged in again at once, and secured a grip of his son's bathing suit, but this gave way, and his son sank. Witness was now exhausted and got ashore with difficulty. Mr Addison dived twice but could not recover the body. The water was about 10 feet deep, the rocks being covered with slime and shelving rapidly into the hole. By means of a rope stretched across the pool as a lifeline, the body was secured. Witness thought his son had slipped on the rocks and so fallen into deep water.  H. T. Addison, a farmer of Windsor, stated that he was one of the bathing party.  Deceased, just as witness was about to go in, called for help. Witness drew the attention of Kelly, sen., and both went to Trooper Kelly's assistance, but in vain. Witness thought the body must have been under water for three-quarters of an hour. First aid was rendered by  Mr Beckingsale and bystanders.  Evidence was also given by Samuel Holmes, of Queen's Flat. A verdict was returned that the deceased came to his death by accidental drowning in the Kakanui River on March 15th, and that every possible means at hand were resorted to save him.

OAMARU MAIL, VOLUME XLI, ISSUE 12799, 17 MARCH 1916, PAGE 1