DROWNED ON EVE OF 18TH. BIRTHDAY

Northern Advocate, 10 January 1938, Page 8

DROWNED ON EVE OF 18TH. BIRTHDAY

[Special To “Norther n Advocate ”j AUCKLAND, This Day.

A youth, Walter Henry Barlow, who was to have celebrated his 18th birthday to-day. was drowned at Panmure on Saturday. He was earned out of his depth by a strong rip tide within a few feet of the bank of the Tamaki Creek, and although rescue efforts were made by several residents, one of whom had to be assisted from the water when he encountered the rip tide, they were unavailing. The youth was a son of Mr H. Barlow. of Williamson Avenue, Grey Lynn, and had arrived in New Zealand on December 20 from England, on a visit to his father.

The lad was spending a holiday with his uncle, Mr T. P. O’Connor, at Panmure. He had only recently learned to swim, and went into deep water. He disappeared almost immediately. When the alarm was given, Mrs R. Ryan, a powerful swimmer, put on her bathing suit and swam to the spot. A few minutes later, Mr J. A. Bunting also dived in, but got into difficulties and was towed ashore by a punt. Dragging was continued yesterday afternoon, the body being discovered in the evening by Mr O’Connor, wedged in some rocks about 20 feet from the spot where the boy was last seen.

Boy Loses Life In Far Northern Tragedy A drowning tragedy occurred in the Far North on Saturday, the victim being a 14-months-old boy. The child was George Wallace, son of Mr and Mrs George Housham, of Waihopo, and the accident occurred at East Beach, Houhora. Mr and Mrs Housham had been camping at the beach, a few miles from Waihopo, since Christmas. On Saturday they decided to break up the camp and return to their home. While Mrs Housham was packing, a little before midday, Mr. Housham went for a last swim. On returning he saw two of his children playing about, but the youngest was missing. When the child was missed, a search was organised, other campers assisting and in a quarter of an hour, the mother found the body of the boy in about four inches of water, among the reeds of a tidal creek, near the locality where the father had been swimming. Efforts at resuscitation failed.

The family had intended to return home on the day of the tragedy. An inquest was held yesterday, before Mr L. A. Mclntosh, coroner, who returned a verdict of accidental drowning.