NELSON.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 227, 15 February 1865, Page 3

NELSON.

, The Accident at the Bdtxee,—The Nelson relation to the late sad accident* has the following remarks: —This sad accident, like many others by which lives most valuable to the community have been sacrificed, apparently cannot be traced to any immediate cause. The steamer Wallaby arrives off the Buller river at low water; the bar presents a smooth appearance, and is declared by Captain Whit well, a most careful and reliable man, to be perfectly safe for crossing, and so, to avoid a delay of two hours which must have intervened before the steamer could enter the river, a boat was lowered to land the passengers for the Buller, in order that the steamer might proceed as quickly as possible on her passage to Nelson. Not the faintest idea of danger was entertained by any person amongst those who either left the vessel in the boat, or those who remained on board of her. The boat crossed the first roller in safety ; but the second sea, according to Mr. Burnett’s evidence, “ struck the boat slightly on the quarter,” and she immediately capsized. The question naturally arises, Does blame attach to any individual for this most lamentable accident? We have already said that no sense of danger was entertained by a single person when the boat left the steamer's side. Had the master of the Wallaby harbored the slightest doubt as to the boat being able to reach the shore in safety, every one who knows Captain Wlutwell will say that he would have been the last man in the world to place the lives of his crew and passengers in danger. And yet, although no danger was apprehended, it is easy now to see how it arose. Although no danger was apparent from the deck of the steamer, it was seen from the shore, where the boat was observed approaching the breakers, and was warned off by a person on the beach, who placed his hat on a stick, and sought to. indicate by his motions that the boat should return, though the warning thus attempted to be given was not seen by the occupants of the boat. -It is plain,, therefore, either that the bar, in spite of appearances outside, could not be safely crossed at the time, or that the boat approached too near the end of the bar, and was thus caught by the breaker at the tail of the sea. A proper code of signals established on shore, would, in all probability, have prevented the occurrence of this sad catastrophe. A flag-staff has been erected there, ■and flags of some kind or other have been foiwarded for use, and these were employed in order to communicate with the steamer or the boat on tins same occasion ; but Captain Whitwell, one of the most experienced of our coasting masters, says that even had he seen the flag hoisted at the flagstaff, he should not have known what it meant. The flagstaff and flags used at the mouth of the Buller are, therefore, practically useless, and nothing but a proper and recognized code of signals can be of any real service. This has already been pointed out on a previous occasion, and also the necessity that a life-boat and crew should be established at the mouths of all those rivers upon which there is sufficient traffic to justify the requisite expenditure. We have elsewhere spoken of the deep regret which Mr. Robinson’s death has caused in all quarters. In private life he was universally esteemed, and even those who differed with him in the conduct of public affairs, always conceded to the late Superintendent honest and upright intentions, and a sincere desire to benefit the province. The present moment is not the time to discuss the policy of our late Chief Magistrate, or the blessings or otherwise which his rule has conferred on the province. Having served as Superintendent of Nelson for upwards of eight years, and been three times elected by increasing majorities of the constituency, his office gave him great power and influence, which he used for no selfish ends; but whatever opinion we may entertain as to his political career, while the grief of his family and friends is yet green for his loss, it would be cruel to say a single word which cou'd add poignancy to their sorrows. It is a wise and benevolent proverb which bids us speak nothing but good of the dead.