DROWNING AT THE THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11546, 4 December 1900, Page 5

DROWNING AT THE THAMES.

[BY TELEGRAPH, OWN CORRESPONDENT.] -v Thames, Monday. The body of Mr. John Miller, a well-known Thames butcher, was found lying in the mud about 7yds distant from the seaward end of Shortland Wharf at low water this morning. Deceased was last seen alive by his daughter, Violet, in his own house, about ten o'clock last night, at which time he went into his bedroom as if preparing to go to bed. About seven o'clock this morning a native, named Karawna Poona, who was working on the Shorthand Wharf, discovered the body of deceased lying face downwards in the mud, he having apparently been drowned, although at that time the tide had receded some distance from the bedy. The Maori at once reported the matter to Constable Hodgson, who' proceeded to the point, and had the body removed tc deceased's late residence. Deceased was about 65 years of age, and was a widower, with a grown-up family. For some time, past he had been in indifferent health, and latterly had been suffering from insomnia. It is surmised that not being able to sleep last night, deceased must have got up for the purpose of having a walk, and, making his way to the wharf, he had sat down on one of the piles to rest that whilst in that position he had dozed off, with the result that he overbalanced himself, and fell into the tide. Deceased was an old resident of the Thames, and was highly respected. An inquest was held this evening, before Mr. Albert Brace, coroner, when a verdict to the effect that deceased met his death through drowning, was returned, but that there was no evidence to show how he go into the water.