THE LATL DROWNING CASE.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1268, 14 August 1880, Page 2

THE LATL DROWNING CASE.

Up to last night no intelligence of the finding of the body of the unfortunate young man .Barker had been received by the police. There is very little to add to the particulars of the accident, which we have already published. The tnan Connor, who was with deceased,, was considerably under tho influence of liquor when he reported the occurrence, but, according to the testimony of a carpenter named Williams, who also works for Mr Price, poor Barker was perfectly sober when he left Ngaruawahia, and could not have obtained any drink after he left. The sad affair is evidently the result of pure accident, deceased, vyho was a good swimmer, being no doubt unable to save himself through being weighed down by a hea\y overcoat which he hatl on at the time. The canoe was a very old one, one of the ends being stopped with clay to keep out the water. The eincerest regret is expressed at the death of Mr Barker in Hamilton, where he has resided for some years, and where he was well tilted for his kindly and inoffensive disposition. [We learn late last night that the canoe out of which young Barker is supposed to have been capsized was found with a kit and paddle in it down the river below Ngaruawahia yesterday afternoon.]