DROWNING ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20454, 4 January 1930, Page 8

DROWNING ACCIDENTS.

FATE OF MINISTER.

FAINTED WHEN BATHING.

[by telegraph.—press association.]

GISBORNE. Friday

A verdict of accidental drowning while bathing in the river at Rere on New Year's Day wjfs returned at the inquest held to-day into the death of the Rev. Adolph Alexander Barham. His companions said that Mr. Barham/ who was unable to swim, appeared to faint and fell off a rocky ledge into deep water.

POUND DEAD IN BATH

NAPIER WIDOW'S FATE,

[by telegraph.—press' association.] NAPIER, Friday.

The body of Mrs. Isobella Gardner, s widow, aged 52, was found in a bath at the house at which she boarded. It is supposed that Mrs. Gardner, who suffered from heart trouble, had a seizure and as a result was drowned.

Mrs. Gardner had been manageress o£ a local tearoom and proposed to start business to-morrow on her own account.

LIFE LOST IN RIVER.

DISCOVERY AT CHRISTCHURCH

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION".] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The body of a middle-aged man found in the Heathcote River yesterday was identified to-day as that of Mr. Thomas McCleary, aged 53, a presser "employed in the Petone Woollen Company's local factory. At the inquest a verdict, of found drowned was returned.

BOY'S BODY IN RESERVOIR.

SAD CASE AT TE PUKE

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.'] TE PUKE, Friday.

The inquest concerning the death of Doenston Edward Pike, aged eight years, who was drowned on New Year's Day, was held this morning before Mr. C. Lally,

J.P., coroner. The evidence disclosed that the boy was missing at tea-time and had not been seen for two hours previously. ■ A search was made by his parents and the body was found in a disused reservoir, which had been filled by recent rain. Dr. MacFarlane had been summoned and artificial respiration was tried for over two hours without success.

The coroner returned a verdict of found

drowned. Deceased was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Pike, of No. 2 Road, Te Puke.