Child Drowned at Aorangi.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 54, 9 October 1883, Page 2

Child Drowned at Aorangi.

We regret to have to report the death, by drowning, of a child named Edgar, *». three-year-old son of Mr Palmer, raana-W ger at Mr Bull's sawmill, at Aorangi. The child was missing at half-past It yesterday morning, and at one o'clock his body was found in a creek near the mill. THE INQWBST. An inqnest was held at Aorangi on the body of Henry Edgar Palmer, a son of Mr Robert Palmer, sawmiller, this morning, before D. H. Macarthur, Esq, J.P., Coroner. The following jury was sworn: — Mr W. D. Nicholas (foreman), Fairfield Tbompson, W. H. Poad, Hogh Boss, Thomas Brooker, John Van Stien, Angus Clark, Archibald McAlister, Edward Mnlcolm, G. Rosaman, John Lorensea, and W. H. Brook er. The following witnesses were examined: — W. H. Poad deposed he was as engine driver nt Bulls' sawmill, Aorangi. Yenterdaj- about 1 o'clock Mrs Palmer told him she had missed the deceased, and witness went to search for him. la crossing the bridge at the back of Mrs Palmer's house, saw the body lying in the water, the head was under water, Mr Palmer, the father of the deceased, was close to witness at the time. The water was about three feet deep. Robert Palmer, father of the deceased, deposed that yesterday on coming home he made enquiries for deceased, and being informed that he had not been at home for some time, sent another child to Mrs Wingfield's, a neighbor, to make enquiries. The messenger returned and told witness deceased had not been there. Witness then commenced a search for him. Crossed the bridge at the back of the house, looked on the lower side, but saw nothing. When witness got across, the last witness, Poad, called out;, ** Her* he is Mr Palmer, i" the water." Witness ran back and found deceased lying on his back in the creek. The knees were abore water Considered deceased fell off the the bridge, which is abont eighteen inches wide, consisting of two planks. Once in the creek, a child of the age of deceased would hare no chance of getting out without assistance. Witness had missed the child about an hour before the body was discovered. No other evidence was required by the coroner, and the jury brought in a rerdiet of " accidentally drowned." Out of respect to the family of the deceased the sawmill was not worked today, and everyone has expressed deep sympathy with Mr and Mrs Palmer, for their untimely bereavement. The funeral took place this afternoon.