NELSON.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 56, 10 February 1843, Page 2

NELSON.

(From the Nelson Examiner.) The return of the Rev. C. Reay from Queen Charlotte Sound, Ranghatoto, &c., where he has been visiting the natives under his charge, has made us acquainted with the death of the Reverend Mr. Mason, of Wanganui, under the following distressing circumstances. About three weeks since Mr. Mason and the Reverend Mr. Hadfield were journeying in company, on horseback, and had occasion to cross a river in the neighbourhood of Wanganui. As the river is one which has shifting sands, it 'was necessary to take the de.ep water. Mr. Mason, wishing if possible to avoid getting wet, knelt on his saddle, and when in the middle of the stream unfortunately lost his balance arid fell into the water.. . Mr. Hadfield, who appears to have been in advance, reached the shore, dismounted from his horse, and swam to the assistance of his friend, whom he reached, and for some time supported. After a long and fruitless endeavour to regain the shore, and finding his own strength failing, Mr. Hadfield was compelled to relinquish his hold, and leave his friend to a watery grave. The body was found the next day washed on shore at some distance. Mr. Mason was ordained by the Bishop a few months since, but had officiated previously for some years under the Church Missionary Society. This is the first accident of the kind that has happened to a minister of the church, since the first residence of any of that body in these islands. We have been informed that Mr. Reay ran considerable risk of losing his life, having been overtaken by a heavy gale of wind in the Straits

while reluming' from Queen Charlotte Sound in a canoe. If it is the duty of that gentleman to visit the coasts of Tasman’s Gulph, Massacre Bav, and Cook’s Straits, he ought to be provided with a safer conveyance than a canoe, and with better sailors than the Maories, who, on being overtaken with a squall, invariably lose all self-possession, and do nothing but chatter. We have been informed that on Sunday week last one of the body of dissenters calling themselves the United Christians, visited the Waimea, and performed divine service. Arrangements have been since made for one of that body to visit the district every Sunday, and, we are most happy to say, to establish a Sunday school there.