BLUFF HARBOR.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 20, 23 December 1863, Page 2

BLUFF HARBOR.

FAr.\L BOAT ACCIDENT. (fhom oue own correspondent) 22nd December, 1863. I have to report another boat accident, which occurred between two or three o'clock on Tuesday morning, by which one man lost his life. Mr. Bardett, mate of the brig Grecian, and a man lately in the employment of Messrs. Smidt and lVerson, Golden Age Hotel, as cook, put off in a small boat to go on board the Grecian, when getting alongside from some cause which I hare not been able to gather, the boat was capsized. Mr Bartlett, the mate, succeeded in getting on the bottom of the boat, and securing the other man, but whilst drifting down the stream, the cook was washed off three times, and three times saved by the mate, again he was washed off, and. the mate being exhausted, was unable to render further assistance. Pilot Mills being on board the Samarang at the time, he and the mate of that vessel, Mr Williams, seeing the accident, immediately got a boat manned and went off to the rescue, but only succeeded in saving Mr Bartlett, the mate of the Grecian, when being carried round the stern of the Flying Mist. The other man was lost. The townspeople at the Bluff are alive in preparing for the forthcoming Christmas and New Year holidays. On Monday evening, 21st instant, a meeting of those interested in Boating and out-door Sports was held at Messrs Lockyer and Hall's Hotel, for the purpose of arranging a programme for Boxing and New Year's day. Mr Lockyer being called to the chair : it was proposed that the challenge sent by the Mokomoko Regatta Club be accepted, and arrangements are now being pushed on for the great event, which I believe is to come off on Boxing day. ,The next thing to consider ' being the out-door Sports, the following programme was decided on: — 200. yards foot race; climbing the greasy pole ; running high leap ,- catching pig with greasy tail; running in sacks; wheel-barrow race blindfolded ; walking the greasy pole at high water mark ; three standing jumps ; 300 yards hurdle race, with six hurdles ; 800 yards walking match; wrestling, open to all Cumberland and Westmoreland men 5 quoit match ; single wicket match. Messrs Waddel, Payne,J Lahey, M'Allister, and Gallop, were appointed to act air a Committee in. gathering the necessary funds, and ■ carrying out the Sports.