LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT IN THE MANUKAU.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 714, 2 September 1869, Page 3

LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT IN THE MANUKAU.

SIX LIVES LOST. (From tho New Zealand Herald, 23rd August.) A lamentable accident occurred on Saturday in the Manukau, whereby six lives were lost. It appears that William Smith, Malcolm M'Ginley, George Grange, known as “Darkey George,” supposed to bo a de sorter from the 11th Regt, and another man, name unknown, bushmen in the employ of Mr M. H. Rowe, who had seen (hern off safe on their journey at about dinner time, were proceeding in a fisherman’s boat manned by Thomas Robinson, Peter Johnson, and a lad of fifteen years of age named Francis Williams, to the Corn wallis saw mills. Titov appear to have got as far as Rig Muddy Creek,' when, owing to some cause, as yet unexplained, the boat would appear to have capsized; for at about 4 p.m. Robert Debat'd and liis mate, boatmen at that place, observed her on her beam ends, and pulled out to her, when they found the lad Williams hanging on to the mast in a state of insensibility, and the man Grange hanging head downwards in tho water, dead, with one foot entangled in tho boat’s gear. They righted the boat, and took it with the boy and deceased to Big Muddy Creek. After using restorative means the boy came round, and on Sunday (yesterday) morning, the boat with the survivor of the accident and the drowned man, were brought up to One hunga, where the body lies at the Royal Hotel awaiting an inquest. Constable Negus at unco came into town, and after acquainting the Commissioner of Police with what had occurred, reported the matter to Ihe Coroner. (From the New Zealand Herald, 24tTi August.) Dr Pliilson held an inquest yesterday, on the body of a man named George Grange, otherwise George Thomas, otherwise “ Darkie George,” one of six men who were drowned in Manukau harbor on Saturday last. The only survivor was a lad fifteen years of age, who in his evidence gave a ve;y grai hie account of the accident, and the drowning of the unfortunate men, one after the other. This is another of those painful accidents which have occur red in the harbor of the Manukau, and there is too good reason to believe that it was the result of carelessness. The jury returned a verdict that Ihe deceased. vva= accidentally drowned.