Disaster at Dunedin

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43315, 21 April 1908, Page 2

Disaster at Dunedin

BOATB IN COLLISION FOUR PERSONS MISSING TWO OTHERSINJURED DUNEDIN, This Day. A serious collision occurred in the lower harbour at a late hour on Saturday night, resulting, it in feared, in the loss of four lives. A large number of members of the Naval Artillery were camped at the heads for the Easter manoeuvres, and some of them were returning to camp about 11 p.m. When opposite Pulling Point, the launch tried to cross tne bow of the Lady Roberts, the Government steamer, but failed, and the steamer ran into her, throwing all those in the launch into the water. The following persons are missing Corporal Robert Slater, of Dunedin Naval Artillery, residing at Mornington, and son of Mr Robert Slater, late member of the Arbitration Court.

Gunner Mathews, of Port Chalmers Naval Artillery. Two lads named McPhee, whose parents reside at St. Kilda. The following occupants of the launch were picked up by the Lady Roberts, which remained in the vicinity of the disaster for an hour ; Sergeant Moir, Sergeant H. S. Montgomery) Gunner Reeves, Trumpeter Peters, all of the Port Chalmers Navals; Gunner Birchall, ofDuneden Navals; Bandsman Thomson, of the Garrison Band; the eldest boy McPhee, George Thomson (civilian), of Maitland-street, and a Dunedin man known as Portguese

Joe, the owner of the launch. The lady Roberts returned to Port Chalmers to eeoure the services of a doctor for two men who were injured in the collision, and then returned to search for the bodies of those missing, bnt up to the present they have not been recovered. Slater was 24 years of age and unmarried, and both the boys McPhee, who) are missing, were under 14. Gunner Mathews was about 20 years of age.