MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE AT RAGLAN.

Kumara Times, Issue 1985, 9 January 1883, Page 2

MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE AT RAGLAN.

~+ TWO GIRLS DROWNED. A great gloom was cast over two families well known and respected in Auckland by a boat accident which occurred in Raglan harbour on Sunday,

24th December, resulting in the drowning of two young ladies, namely, Miss Edith Wallis, aged 12 years, daughter of Mr William H. Wallis, of Raglan, and grand-daughter of the Rev. J. Wallis, and Miss Caroline Laver, 16 years of age, daughter of Mr Charles Laver, contractor, Auckland. Miss Laver was on a visit to Raglan, to spend the holidays with Mr Wallis's family there. On the day named a party of nine went from Mr Wallis's residence in a boat across the Whangaroa harbour to the Wesleyan services by the Rev. Mr Slade. Mr Wallis, a young man, 22 years of age, who is well acquainted with the harbour, was in charge of the boat, and all went well until the return trip, when they were struck by a squall, and all springing to one side the boat upset. The Hamilton correspondent of the New Zealand Herald telegraphed that " there were nine persons in the boat, consisting of eight members of Mr Wallis's family—three young men, two boys, and three girls—and Miss Laver. When the boat capsized all scrambled on to it except Miss Laver and Edith Wallis (who were drowned), and one boy and one other girl of Mr Wallis's family. The second eldest of Mr Wallis's sons, Thomas, struck out to save Miss Laver, and got hold of her, but sank twice with her, being dragged down apparently by some object, supposed to be his own sister Edith. He lost his grip of Miss Laver, and had a hard struggle to save himself, swimming for Dick Phillips' boat, which was coming to their assistance. So narrow an escape had Thomas Wallis that in hauling him into Phillips' boat the men dipped their arms to the shoulders into the water, and then only caught hold of him by the fingers of his hand. The next eldest son, Arthur, meantime suc-

ceeded in saving a younger brother, and the third son saved a little sister, swimming with them to the boat, of which all six were taken by a boat belonging to Mr Graham, which had also put off to their assistance. The accident happened about half a mile from the beach, and was witnessed by a number of persons amidst great excitement, as several boats were out, and it was not known which was the one capsized." The body of Miss Laver was recovered next day, happily not disfigured ; and that o£ Miss Wallis was found a few days after, floating outside the harbour.