Narrow Escape of the Governor from Drowning.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 153, 8 May 1886, Page 3

Narrow Escape of the Governor from Drowning.

Auckland, May 4. His Excellency the Governor, Sir Win. Jervois, and the vice-regal party, , left Auckland yesterday afternoon, at half-past 5 o'clock, by special train for Onehunga, en route for Wellington. Lady Jervois and Misa Jervoia had proceeded to Onehunga by the half -past three o'clock train, and were awaiting the arrival of His Excellency in the Hinemoa. About 20 minutes past six o'clock, Hia Excellency arrived, and was walking towards the end of the wharf, it being very dark at the time. No one seems to have recognised His Excellency, but some one called out warning him of his danger. Sir Wrn. Jervois, however, took the wrong turning, went overboard, and fell into the water, a distance of at least 11 feet. " A man overboard" was immediately heard, and fivo or six men ran to the side of the vessel. Mr Noble, second mate of the s.s. Hawea, who has succeeded in paving several lives on previous occasions, immediately leaped overboard, and found His Excellency holding on by one of the stringers, although Mr Noble had no idea that he was assisting the Governor. A rope was prepared and lowered, and His Excellency was drawn on to the wharf uninjured, apparently, beyond a complete drenching. "Where are my hat and umbrella?" asked His Excellency. "They ate gone to sea," was the reply from a seaman, Fortunately, it was flood tide at the time, or the accident might have been more serious.