FOUND DROWNED

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10452, 18 October 1911, Page 4

FOUND DROWNED

OLDEST RESIDENT OF BIDEFORD. Mr William Bryant, the oldest resident of the district, was found drowned in -the Taueru river, at B?d#>rdi, early yesterday morning. The deceased was last seen o&Saturday morning at 6.30 o'clock, when -h*« ajHpeared to he in his usual health, Bryant (had been . putting some fencing across tihe river in several during the previous few day*, <tor Mr W. EL Oruickhank. He Jbad completed two portions, and stilt had to erect another at to, different part of the creek.

It is surmised that he was viewing the site for the fence from, a log across the creek, when his foot slipped and he fell into the water. The log bore the mark of his boot. There was a rcruise on the man's forehead, and'it is supposed that he ota-uon: the-log in falling, and was. stunned*

Bryant had lived in the district for 40 years, and is said to have , been oyer 80 years of age, «TL'He had occupied, a whare near the ' creek for the past/tnyeinty years j and' was (postmaster at Badeford for a long period. JDeoea*ed was *lso in receipt of the old-age pension. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon, (before the District- Ooro- "•' ner (Mr J. T. M. Hornsby), when, a verdict of death from drowning by nuisadventuire was recorded. , ,-