DROWNING FATALITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13493, 21 May 1907, Page 5

DROWNING FATALITIES.

BOY DROWNED AT HUNTLY.

An unfortunate accident occurred at Huntly on Sunday, when Bertie Horwood, a boy of five years, and a son of Mr. George Horwood, butcher, was drowned. j Accompanied by John Kelly, a boy of about the same age, he proceeded to the river bank, where they entered , a Maori canoe. The light craft capsized, precipitating its occupants into the water. Young Kelly was able to extricate' himself, but the other boy was held fast in the mud and willows, while the former was too frighter\ed or too dazed to raise the alarm. The parents,, becoming anxious on account of the non-appearance of young Horwood, made inquiries, and were informed of the accident. Search was at once made, and the river dragged, with the result that at about half-past five p.m. the body of the little fellow was found. All efforts at resuscitation failed, Dr. Lowe on his arrival pronouncing life extinct. An inquest was held yesterday: The presence of several of these dangerous canoes on the river banks is a serious menace to the safety of children. ' [by TELEGRAPH. association.] DargaVille, Monday. Matthew Robinson, an elderly man, fell overboard from the steamer Waiwera, at nine o'clock on Saturday night, between Dargaville and Graham's Fern, and was drowned. Search was made for the body, but without success. Blenheim, Monday. An organised public search for the missing man, Wm. Preston, who left his home at Blenheim alone, with a bicycle and a gun, to go to Riverlands, on a duck shooting expedition, resulted yesterday in the discovery, near Opawa River, of a bicycle, which has since been identified as Preston's. ' Dragging operations are taking place to-day. —