Perils by Floods.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 114, 21 April 1883, Page 3

Perils by Floods.

i — • — THIRTY-HOURS ON A ROCK. i. boat accident recently occurred on the Hokitika liivev by which one of a survey party was drowned. The surveyor (Mr Murray) had given his men strict injunctions not to remain m the boat whilst coining down the rapids, but to slack her down by rope ; and had these orders been carried out, the accident would not have occurred. But it appears that George Collier, who had charge, and was steering, attempted to shoot the fall with the boat's head down the stream, and when m the rapids lost his presence of mind and altered the course, and then immediately tried to again alter it. This had the effect ot bringing her across the current, when she struck the' rock wit^ a speed of twenty knots an hour and went to atoms. Selby was tin own clean on top ; Harm am grasped the rock and struggled on to it ; and looking down they saw young Blair ioul of a rope, hanging m the water. They pulled him up by the hair, and then saw Oolier flying down the current, standing well m the watei and having hold of an oar. Just then he struck a sunken rock and capsized, tie came up again without the oar, looked towards his mates, waved his hand* •' good-by," and was gone for ever. The three mentioned as having gained the rock m the centre of the torrent remained on it for thirty hours before they were rescued.