DEATH BY DROWNING.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 170, 26 July 1870, Page 2

DEATH BY DROWNING.

THIS DAY.

Information was brought to Con.tablo Cai> rigan, of the Water Police, about nine o'clock .his morning, by a man named Courtney,, a -eaman belonging. to the cutter Four Sisters, thnt a dead body was lying in'the intake ..onthe breakwater'-r^ud. Carrigan at once proceeded to the spot where he found the body as described, lying in the water, which was at that time pretty high, the tide being well up; The body, on being brought to land; was found to be that of a man apparently about forty years of age, of very respectable appearance, but a stranger to Auckland, as far "as Carrigm k-ows. The following description lias been supplied to us: height fire feet nine inches, dark hair and whiskers, dressed in dark tweed coat, and light tweed trousers, and with watertight boots upon tiie feet. Nothing whatever was. found in the pockets except a pocket-knife. During the last few days enquiries have regularly been made at the Polico Office concerning a man who has been musing, and it is supposed that the deceased may possibly be the person enquired after. The body presented the appearance of having been in the water fjr sonic six hours, so that it would appear -that deceased must have fallen in the intake about three o'clock. What could have, brought him down to this deserted spot at such an hour it is hard, to say, but the mystery will probably be cleared up .at the inquest which is to be held at the Railway Terminus Hotel, at two o'clock to-morrow afternoon. The body has been removed to tho dead-house to await the inquest. THE BODY IDENTIFIED. Since the above was iv type tho body has been identified as that of John Holmes, who came last trip of the Wonga Wonga, from San Francisco, and with hjs wife and two children has since been living in Napier-street. He has been greatly depressed, owing to losses in California, aud has been missing from his home since Sunday evening at 7 o'clock.