TERRIBLE FATALITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 237, 3 September 1884, Page 2

TERRIBLE FATALITY.

TWO WOMEN DROWNED.

(united pbkss association.) Woodville, This Day. A terrible fatality occurred here last night, whereby two women were drowned. The rain fell yesterday and all last night m torrent*, and as a result the Manawatu River rose with great rapidity. H. McKenzie, contractor for Manawatu Railway and Traffic Bridge, four miles from here, lived m a house on a raised piece of „ ground. on the bank of the river.. Shortly after midnight it was fennd that the house was being surrounded by water, and a raft was made for the purpose of getting the people awayfrom the house. Shortly after three. ' o'clock the first attempt was made, the raft being occupied by Mrs McKenzie and her son, Mrs Feasy : and husband, and a man named McMillan; when crossing, however, it struck a snag and was capsized. All ■■... occupants got safely on board again, but the steering pole was lost and, the raft swept out into the surging current of the main stream, and again the raft struck a snag- and capsized. The three men somehow got ashore, and^were picked up pretty well m- "■' sensible, but the two women were drowned, and there seems litfte hope of even recovering their bodies. Mrs McKcnzio had been living m Dunedin, and only came to. Woodville on Monday last. Mr McKenzie will be a heavy loser m consequence of the flood", a great quantity of timber having been, swept away and sinking machinery submerged. Traffic .is stopped at the Gorge and. on Master? ton Road, the ferry rope a,t. tfte. , •..:-. former having given wsy. 6thep, ; , streams and rivers are very high am| there is a general flood; . the main road to Masterton being covered with water for nearly a mile. No loss of stock as yet reported.