DROWNING OF A LAD.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 711, 6 January 1903, Page 2

DROWNING OF A LAD.

1 ELDEST SON OF MR HUGH HEENEY. A sad affair occurred yesterday after noon, when the eldest surviving son of Mr Hugh Hecney was drowned. It appears that Hugh Heeney, aged 13, accompanied by three younger brothers, went to get some fruit at Mr Griffin’s place. They were joined there by two of Mr Griffin’s children, all the lads, excepting Hugh, being under ten years of age. They sauntered round until they came to a hole in the Te Hapara creek on the Whataupoko side of the Taruheru freezing works. Hugh went in for a bathe, and got out of his depth. Being unable to swim, he was soon in peril of his life. I His brother Joho, aged 10, tried to help him from the bank, but was himself nearly pulled iu, and Hugh, being unable to hold on, sank, and was drowned before any help was obtainable. The sad news was conveyed to the parents and to the police, and Detective Nixon and Constable Crawford drove out from town to try and recover the body. It was soon obtained and brought into the morgue, and then taken to the residence of the parents. An inquest will be held this morning, and the funeral takes place at 8.30 this afternoon.

Much sympathy will be felt for Mr and Mrs Heeney in the loss of their son, who was a lad of much promise. The family have had a good many trials in recent 0,1 °EB occasion three of the lads J CUiha I x» • had a bad time througn a poisonous berries ; more recently members of the family suffered from fever, and a short time ago Mr Heeney himself, while bravely assisting in connection with a fire in Herbert street, had his hand severely out. When all seemed well again there comes this sad affair, which has caused much grief to the parents.