SHOCKING OCCURRENCE. Invercargill, October 27.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 312, 31 October 1888, Page 5

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE. Invercargill, October 27.

A i, \mi< \ r mill accident occurred tin-, morning at Matdiua Island, on the liver of that name. A man named An chew McFariane, a ploughing contiactor, residing at Edendale, having got employment at the Olaiia Dauj Factory, neai Foitrose, staited with a tv\o-hoihC team tor his new location yesteiday, taking with him his household ellects, his wiH' and child, and his wife's brother and sister, together with a boy who had been In ing with him. They leached the island in the attcrnoon. MeFai lane after taking iood itunained on the inland all night. Mr Spratt, farmer, theie advised him not to pursue his lourney that way, but icLum and cio 6-^6 -^ the liver at the \Vyndham Bridge. AJcFarlane demurred to this detour ot twenty mile 1 -, and e.irly tins morning entered the rncr to fold it. The team had onl> adxanccd a few yaids when tho wheel dropped into a hole, and the dray swung lound. and the occupants, who weie seated among r<he furniture, which was not secured, wcie swept into the liver. The lad slipped out ot the diay to a box, on which he lately floated to a point about a quarter of a mile below, wheie he got a&hoie. The occurrence was not seen by anyone from the banks, but as none ot the other live occupants of the diay have been been .since, it is almost ceitain that all weie diowned. The diay did not capsize, and the le.tders dragged it and the drowned shatter out of the river. None of the bodies have yet been recovered.

A GALLANT BUT HOPELESS STRUGGLE. None of the bodies of the persons di owned in the Mataura River have boon lecovcred. Labei news shows that McFailane had made a gallant elloib Lo oav<, his wife and her sister. He was swimming strongly close to the shore when he saw them struggling in the watci, and turned back to help them. They sank befoie he reached the spot, however, and he soon after disappeared. This heartrending scene was witnessed by the only survivor, a lad ot eighteen, who seized hold of a box and part of a bedstead and kept himself afloat till he landed some distance down the rivei.