Sad Drowning Fatality.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4413, 20 May 1909, Page 2

Sad Drowning Fatality.

MR C. O’DRISCOLL’S SON FALLS INTO WAIHEKAU STREAM. It is with feelings of regret we have to record the death of l Mr Cornelius O’Driecoll’s little son, Timothy, aged years, who felt into the Waihekau Stream and was drowned on Tuesday last. From particulars to hand it appears that Mr O’Driscoll, who resides on his farm on the Rangiatea, was driving into Te Aroha to attend a Drainage Board meeting, and, as he had often done before, took two of his children with him about 200 yards down the road, within sight of their home. The father proceeded to Te Aroha and the little ones turned in. the direction of home. On passing along the children must have stopped to play on the narrow bridge crossing over the Waihekau Stream, with the result that the little boy fell in. His sister, aged three years, returned

I home find told her mother that ' “ Tim ” had fallen in the creek. The shock to the mother can easily be imagined, and she at once called out to a man named Sam. Marks, close by employed on the farm, who immediately raced towards the spot plunged beneath the water and succeeded in bringing the boy out, but his li'e had departed. The creek at this spot is between 7 and 10 feet deep. Marks rode into Te Aroha for the Doctor and informed the father of the sad occurrence. On returning home the horse

Marks’ was riding stumbled and threw

him with some force to the ground, breaking his shoulder blade. Dr. Kenny attended to the injury. Constable Mackle communicated with the Coroner, Mr William Forrest, of Paeroa, who happened to be in Auckland on business. The Constable’next tiied to get one of the local Justices of the Peace, but without success. Captain Lyons Montgomery, who does the major portion of the Justice work, was unfortunately on the sick list.

Coroner Forrest will, however, hold an inquest after the arrival of the 11.15 train to-day.