UPSETTING OF THE LIEFBOAT AT TARANAKI.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 172, 5 August 1869, Page 2

UPSETTING OF THE LIEFBOAT AT TARANAKI.

On Saturday last, at about three o'clock, as the life-boat was returning from the s.s. Phoebe, after putting the mail on board, she experienced a nasty cross sea with heavy breakers; when about a quarter of a mile from the shore, one of the heavy rollers struck the boat and turned it completely o\'er, immersing the whole of the crew in the water. The men who had cork jackets on were immediately seen to rise to the surface and cling to the boat, which refused to right herself. The poor men, while battling with the surf, had to get to one side of the boat and pull her over before they could get her into position again. Their efforts were at last successful, and having secured their oars, they tried to make for the shore. Captain I-lolford, harbor master, oa seeing the accident, had the surf-boat launched with all possible speed,' aud with another crew went out to the men's assistance. Meanwhile the rollers kept toppling in one after the other with a rapidity that prevented the crew in the lifeboat making way. After beating about for a long time, they at last tried to run in to the shore, but when within a few yards of the beach a breaker caught the boat and capsized her again. It was painful to witness these poor men struggling with the foaming surf, and trying to regain the boafc, which was being tossed about by the raging waters. The beach by this time *\yas thronged by persons who, on hearing of the accident, had congregated together; and some, at this juncture, stripped themselves of their superfluous garments, and bravely went to assist the men who were clinging to the boat a short distance off. A rope was thrown to them and the boat and crew safely brought on shore, but not a minute too soon, for some of the men's strength was nearly expended. We are happy to say that no lives -were lost, although several of the crew were more or less hurt. — Taranaki Herald. Long Duive Claim. — One of the richest, patches, if not the richest, of the mauy that have been taken out of the Ltfug Drive Claim was cut into this morning in the low, level workings, about eight feet above the old long drive. Several bucketsful of specimens were taken out. We say specimens, whereas the fevy.that we examined. belonged ratherto the category of nuggets than specimens, so . thickly did the gold lie' in. jjhWn', : Unlike other parcels' of specimens taken.: out of this claim, the stone of this one is of blue color, and very solid.-— Weekly News,J\\\y3l. ■'■,;■.--••'. ■•. '' ; r