Latest TELEGRAMS

Patea Mail, 20 March 1882, Page 3

Latest TELEGRAMS

This Afternoon , SAD BOAT ACCIDENT. LATER PARTICULARS. Invercargill, this day. A sailing party went on the river yesterday, a few miles from here, and a gust of wind catching the sail, the boat turned over in 20 feet of water. A young man named Ackers caught his sister floating, and swam with her to the boat, which was now floating bottom up. He then rescued his brother aged 7 years. A young man named W. Smith was also clinging to it, these comprising all the party. The boat sank when they were all clinging round it, the weight being too much. Another boat was then put off from the shore by a boy named Colin Brown. H. Ackers then took his brother and sister under each arm, and endeavoured to keep afloat by “treading” the water; but the wind rising made the water rough, and he overbalanced and sank, the children going down under him. They slipped their hold, and although Ackers dived after them he could not reach ; so regaining the surface he observed Smith 20 yards away, and told him to float on his back. Smith replied “ I can’t.” By this time young Brown’s boat had reached Akers, who told him not to mind but go on and save Smith. Just as the boat got up to Smith he sank. Ackers was then persuaded with difficulty to enter the boat. The bodies of the girl and Smith were subsequently recovered.

Stack Tiring. Kaikonra.—Early on Saturday morning three stacks of wheat and one of oats, the property of Parson Bros., were destroyed by fire ; uninsured. A reward of £SO is offered for the discovery of the origin. At daybreak this morning, four stacks of wheat, the property of S. Warren, were destroyed through the same agency ; insured for £2lO. These fires are believed to be the work of an incendiary.