TAUHOA: A CHILD DROWNED.

New Zealand Herald, Issue 6568, 5 December 1882, Page 6

TAUHOA: A CHILD DROWNED.

[FROM OI K OWN COKRESPONDENT.] A vkkv sorrowful accident occurred at Tauhoa on Tuesday last. Two little boys, aged M\ years and 1 year and 10 ten mouths, were together, and appear to have visited a bed of strawberries on a steep bank near to a creek. A little further is a very narrow path with deep water on each side when the tide is in. The yornger child appears to have slipped down the rushes into the water, and the other went home, a distance of five or six chains, and told its mother that Alfred was in the water. The anxious mother soon readied the spot indicated. Seeing nothing of her child, she got into the deep water up to her chest, and endeavoured with her hands to find the object of her solicitude. Not succeeding, she went to the house of her nearest neighbour, Mr. Joseph Western, and informed him of the circumstances. Mr. Western promptly hurried to the place, and before Mrs. Johnson arrived had found the body of tho child floating a little further down the cr«ek. He thought there was no hope of resuscitation from the first, but used means, and for half-au-hour, without success. The inquest was held at the house of Mr. Johnson on Wednesday, before Mr. Shepherd. The jury were—Messrs. Witheford (foreman), J. Burnett, C. Parker, G. Wilcockson, K. Burdett, T. Fletcher, T. Welsh, E. Marcroft, .J. Tain, James T. l'.iia, and J. Stone. The evidence of Mr. Western and Mrs. Johnson were taken, and the verdict " Accidentally Drowned" was returned. There was a kindly expression of sympathy lor tile bereaved parents in the attendance at the funeral, which took place on the day following, at the cemetery. The school children, with their teacher, Mrs. Dent, were present, joining in singing appropriate hymns, Mr. Whiteford performing the burial servica. On the same day as the inquest the other boy had a narrow escape. a cow knocked him down, and he lay between the animal's fore feet, which tried to pierce him with its horns. Happily, he was rescued without beintrhurt.