MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 17, 18 January 1876, Page 2

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.

It is with great regret that we hare to record a melancholy death by drowning in the Maitai this morning, the deceased being Mr David M'Beth, recently in the employ of Meßßrs Wymond & Co., both here and at Wanganui, who, sad to say, leaves a widow and seven children. The particulars, so far as we have been able to learn them, are as follows :— Mr Pickering went up the Maifai Valley this morning between seven and eight to bathe, and some time before he reached the bathing hole he heard a child crying bitterly. On arriving at the hole he found a little boy, some ten years of age, walking up and down the shingle bed, who, as soon as he saw him, exclaimed, " Oh I father's drowned." Mr Pickering, having asked a question or two, immediately ran back to Mr Richardson's paddock, where he had passed the Hev T. S. Grace and Mr West, and called them to come and assist. 'On arriving at the bathing hole Mr Grace at once threw off his clothes and swam to the other side, from whence he could see the deceased standing bolt upright without any support whatever, bis head being about four feet below the i surface. Mr Grace reached down, and was • j list atye to lay hold bt the hair of his head, and : swam aßhore w^th him. Death must hare J occurred J3ome, time previously, $b the boy, | who was bathiqg irjth his fa^ier, haa, on | seeing him sink, gone down the river ,to the | ford, .crossed #, a#d dressed himself, and had I beea walfeing ,up £ufl d^wn fpr fi,om,e minutes ! before Mr jj?ickerjog>s arrival pn phe #pot, An I toque:! 1 *$ ?? !#? *!• J?fW D f