DEATH BY DROWNING.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1267, 12 August 1880, Page 2

DEATH BY DROWNING.

A boat accident happened on the Waipa River, on Monday night, by which a •young man named George Barker lost his life. Deceased, who was employed by Mr Price, of Hamilton, in the erection of a house for Mr Kathbone, on the west side of the Waipa, above Ngaruawahia, had been in the township during the evening, and in company with another man named Connor, they started to get back across the river about 11 o'clock. They went to the landing just above Firewood Creek, and Barker got into a canoe which was there and commenced to paddle over ; Connor, however, called him back, wishing to accompany him. He returned to the bank, and Connor in attempting to get into the canoe must have stumbled and fallen on to the boat, upsetting it, and precipitating Barker into the river. No sign was afterwards seen of him by Connor, who reported the occurrence to the police. A search was instituted early the next morning by Constable Haddock and a number of volunteers, and continued up till yesterday evening, bnt without success, neither the body nor the canoe being discoverable. The constable also tried the experiment of firing off a few charges of dynamite in the water, but without effect. Barker was a young man well known and respected in Hamilton, where he has worked for several years in the employment of Mr Price, builder. He was only 23 yeard of age, and was a native of Plougheast, Durham, where his mother resides, his father having been killed in a trap accident tM r o or three years ago. He has, it is believed, a married sister hi the colonies, but he was himself ignorant of her exact whereabouts. Deceased was a member of the local Orange Lodge, and also of the Hamilton Light Infantry Band.