CORRESPONDENCE.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 794, 8 January 1877, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

reported drowning case. lo the Editor of the Globe. Sib,— One would have thought that the compilers of the Lyttelton Times being classical scholars would have known that many tongued rumour was a liar, and would have been careful; but news being scarce they have chosen to create a local which might be passed over as too absurd for notice were it not for the fact that a good deal of uneasiness may be caused if it is allowed to pass uncontradicted. The paragraph referred to is headed : “ Rumored Boat Accident in Lyttelton,” and runs as follows “ A rumor was current in Christchurch last night to the effect that a serious accident had happened in Lyttelton harbor. As far as we could ascertain, the report was based on the fact that the steam launch Lyttelton, when returning from Governor’s Bay to catch the last train, passed a boat bottom upwards, which was said to be the gig of the Langstone. It was stated that the captain of the Langstone, accompanied by the mate, a lady, and some one else, had gone out in the gig for a sail, and it is surmised that ,she..’.'/as capsized in a arn l ''D- a . tne occupants drowned. The launch does not seem to have turned out of its way to the boat. These are the statements which were prevalent last night, but how much truth they contain it is impossible to say. It is to be hoped that they have been exaggerated. ” Exaggerated ! why it is an absurd fable. The real facts of the case are that the cook and second mate of the Langatone turned over the boat close to the shore at Raupaxi, scrambled to land, and walked in to Port rather wet: there was no captain, no lady, no mate, no drowning. The steam launch, instead of “ not turning out of its way to the boat,” actually went alongside. Just fancy Captain Agar leaving people to drown—l think I see him doing it. I advise the Times in future to trust to its own reporter, who took great pains to ascertain the truth of the whole affair, and would, of course, have sent the news, if there had been any to send. The " penny awful ” business is well enough for the Star , but I expect to find reliable information in the Times, of which, as well as of your valuable organ, I am a CONSTANT READER.