A CANOE ACCIDENT.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8088, 27 December 1906, Page 2

A CANOE ACCIDENT.

HOY DROWNED IN THE WAIKATO,

SEARCH FOR THE BODY.

Anot'. or arcident of a distre»aing nature happened in Hamilton list evening, by which a lad named Benjamin Spenie, 15 yearn t>f age, lest his life. Spence, who wag in the employ of the Rov. N. C. W, Raiclill", vicar of Hamiltop, went for a drive afternoon with two feoja'e servants. They went towards Mr M. (i, Farrer'i property on the river bank, The trap wai left in charge of one of the girl?, and Spence and the other girl walked down to the water's edge. Here (hey found a canoe, which the boy got into. According to the itatement of his companion, the canoe seems to hive get adrift and capsized, Spence sinking immediately. Ibe girlt went to Mr Farrer's house for asi:.*tance, and Mrs Farrer and her eon came to the spot. The canoe was found, but there wa? no sign of the body of Spence. Mr Faner drove to the Police Static n and informed Sergeant Hastie of the accident at 6 o'clock last evening. Accompanied by Constable McCormack the Sergeant wont to the scene of the accident und c mmenced dragging operations, but up till a late hour, when the darkness caused the search to be postponed, the b dy h»dLut been recovered. Early tLii morning Constables Ryan and McCormack secured a boat and continued the search.

Deceased came to Hamilton from Pukete, where his parents reside.

At the time of going to press the search had been unsuccessful. The constables are still dragging the river in the vicinity of the mishap.