DROWING ACCIDENT AT POMAHAKA DOWNS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXVI, Issue 1381, 6 March 1900, Page 3

DROWING ACCIDENT AT POMAHAKA DOWNS.

While bathing in the Pomahaka Kiver on Wednesday afternoon last Douglas Kennedy, relieving teacher at Pomahaka Downs was drowned. Deceased was ; just learning to" swim, and had been bathing regularly at the place where he met his death. He spoke to a farmer named Abernethy as he went into the water, and in reply to a warning about the depth, said he felt confident of not being drowned. He swam a short distance all r»ght, when Abernethy noticed him struggling as if trying to get on to his side or back. He did not call out, Abernethy only hearing a muffled sound. Abernethy has no doubt but that the deceased took cramp. He sank lengthways nut feet first. The body was recovered about 7 o'clock the same evening, and was subsequently brought on to Clinton where an inquest was held before Mr Jas. Eoy, J.P. -4-T.hpmas John M'Kee said deceased swam about for some time. Witness saw deceased struggling and then sink. Witness could do nothing to save him. Deceased was cheerful and in pood spirits when he went into the river. Witness was about; a chain from him when he saw him sink. He sank in -a pool abjut 10ft deep. — Joseph Abernethy corroborated the evidence given by the previous witness. — John Forno said a man named Adams and he recovered the body about 7 p.m., •wrapnpd thVbpdyin^a tept, 4 put.it qn a'plaqk* aoi cou'veye'd it to the"aclioolijouse— -bis x6*

sidence.— The jury returned a verdict of accidental drowning. The deceased was 21 years of age, and a son of Mr D. Kennedy, Town Clerk, Mosgiel, and had a particularly promising career. Besides passing pupil teachers examinations, according to the Taieri Advocate, he kept three years' terms at the Otago University and passed the first half of the B. A. degree, before his apprenticeship expired. Two days after received word of having passed the final examination for the B. A. degree, the accident resulting in his death occurred. He had the distinction of being the first New Zealand student to obtain the B. A. degree at such an early age (21 years) without either coaching, or a University education.