THE NEWS FROM AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 405, 23 August 1866, Page 2

THE NEWS FROM AUCKLAND.

By the arrival of the s.s. * Star of the South,’ yesterday afternoon, we were placed in possession of Auckland papers to the 18th inst. A terrible boat accident occurred at the Manukau on the 13th inst., by which tea persons lost their lives. The ‘ Weekly News ’ thus summarises the catastrophe:— Intelligence was brought to town on Tuesday of a terrible accident which had occurred on Monday afternoon in the Manukau by which ten persons had been drowned. The Awhitu ferry boat left that place for Onehunga about II o’clock on Monday forenoon and at about 2 o’clock, in crossing the harbor, she was capsized, with the calamitous result above stated. The names of the persons drowned were Henry Mitchell, ferryman, Mrs Westfold and her three children, Mr and Mrs Reynolds and child, Mr Lucas, Mr Murphy. Two persons were saved by clinging to the boat, W. Spaulding, of Onehunga, and Thomas Reid, who assisted Mitchell to sail the boat. The evidence taken at the inquest on Wednesday, and the verdict of the jury, ought to cause the Provincial authorities to look after the manner in which the ferries kept up by subsidies are managed. In the first place, Mitchell, was, it appears, quite incapable of managing the boat. He had the use of only one hand, and so was forced to make fast the sheet of sail while he steered. He was assisted by a boy who is very hard of hearing, and who has no knowledge of how to manage a boat. Secondly, it appears that the Government in advertising for tenders specified that the boat must be of a certain tonnage. For some time a sufficient boat was used, but latterly a much smaller boat has been put on, unfit to stand the sen frequently to be encountered in the Manukau, The bodies of Mrs Westfold and her three children were viewed by the jury, in an out-house of the Royal Hotel, where they had been laid out, the infant in the same coffin as the mother. After the inquest the funeral took place and a considerable number of persons attended, Mrs Westfold having been well known and much respected in Onehunga. The guu-hoat ‘ Pioneer’ has come to grief on the Waikato. The ‘ Weekly News ’ says—- _ The Waikato gun-boat Pioneer struck on the river Horotiu last Thursday week, and although it was at first thought that no serions damage had been caused, and that the vessel might be got to the Waikato Heads, she made water to such an extent that she sank about three miles below Hamilton. Considerable blame is thrown upon a party of military settlers who were engaged at Hamilton to pump the vessel, but who, after working for some time, got drunk and struck for higher pay. Hopes are entertained that the vessel will be got afloat in a few days.