ACCIDENT AT THE NORTH SHORE.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 507, 25 August 1871, Page 2

ACCIDENT AT THE NORTH SHORE.

An accident occurred yesterday afternoon nt the North Shore, which, in the language of the penny-a-liners, might have been attended with more serious results. In fact, it is wonderful that very serious r< stilts did not occur, and the only reason we can assign i.s that the individual;* in question wen; not born to be drowned. Jiy the 4.8u p.m. trip of the fen-y steamer Jinterpri.se, a large Mifnjber 6rtl{ef residents', at: ths I^orth tihbfef 'finished" 'the* business of the day, departed from the Queen-street wharf, aa is their custom, hoping to spend the remiinder of the day in the peaceful retirement of the domestic hearth, and little anticipating that such a thrilling incident should occur after leaving the whirl o^ity^lif^ W& b^a|in£fhjßtaiselves to the seeluged-hataiefctoriithoother side. The sttftoej'had-;reaolied the wharf in safetyf4pcl the gangway had been placed, as usual', 'from the jetty'to tlie bridge, aud i a considerable number hadalreadycrossed. Captain McDougall was standing at the foot of the gangway, keeping Hint structure steady, and- Mr. Lock and Mr. Niccol essayed to nross, when, the stage slipping, these two gentlemen, Captain McJDougal, and the stage, all went into .th^-sea^ together.. , M \l^ a^iccpl and the captain' inaitwged t'&. seizfe the stage, "while Mr. Leek struck out manfully, iiis hat retaining its usual position on his head. As speedily as possible ropes were lowered, and Mr. JNiccol and the captain were pulled up on deck looking very wet and serious. By-and-bye, M,r. Leokj having,returued from his cruise, l ;wa^ also^bJuibaUtip at-a? rope'send, when, placing his feet firmly on the deck, he shook the steamer from stem to stern with one loud guffaw. The infection caught. The serious lines relaxed on the countenances of his two brothers in misfortune, and soon spectators and. yjctims were making the Kelkin ring with •roar's •■of: 'laiigti'ter1.- All's 'well that ends well ; and we are glad to be able to congratulate our North Shore friends that this has ended in merriment; but,really these gangways: require more careful watching, or we fear: we shall have a different tale to tell.