DROWNING FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2088, 14 January 1908, Page 2

DROWNING FATALITY.

LITTLE GILD HOWLED IN WAIMATA RIVER. A drowning fatality of a particularly sad nature occurred yesterday nfternou near tho locality known as the “Hole in the Wall,” by which a little girl named Glady Margaret Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Brown, lost her life. From what can bo gathered it appears that the little one was, in company with her mother and some friends, playing on the bank of the liver, and during the time that the other members of the party were sitting down having some tea the child wandered away. On her being, missed a search was mado which only resulted in the finding of tho hat floating in tho water that the little girl h:7s been wearing. The police were immediately informed of the occurrence and Constable Irwin prod to the scene with all possible haste. Oil arriving he procured a bathing suit, and on being shown the spot where the hat was found dived in and succeeded in recovering the body at the first atempt. Artificial respiration was resorted to _by the constable in his endeavor to restore animation but unfortunately his efforts in this direction word futile, as life was extinct. The child’s father who is a carrier and contractor is at present»away in the Motu district and has been * communicated with. The deceased child was tlio only daughter of her parents. An inquest will be held at 2.30 p.m. to-day at the parents’ residence, Riverside road. Constable Irwin is to bo highly commended for his prompt, action in recovering the body, and this is not tho first time that his services have been requisitioned in this direction. As it- will be remembered when the little bov Higgins was drowned ill tho same river last year, Constable Irwin. after diving repeatedly, also recovered that body. Some years ago in Christchurch tho same officer while fullv dressed iln his uniform plunged into the Avon and rescued a child who had fallen in and was m imminent danger of drowning.