THE RIVER RAFT AT PAKAWAI.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1897, 1 February 1875, Page 2

THE RIVER RAFT AT PAKAWAI.

SERIOUS Ads&ElsT^ On Saturday afternppn;At«]i^oik^halfjll^foi^.p'clpjsk^ <% a^Ht^emen^consstrUcted' fof the conveyance of passengers across the Kauaeranga to the camping | ground immersed a number of persons in the centre of the creek, at which point the water is very deep. It is really dreadful to think what might have been the result of such a catastrophe had it not been ior the timely assistance rendered. The manner in which the accident occurred was this: A number of persons got on the raft for the purpose of crossing, and in consequence of their insensibility; to danger they were too careless in the disposition of themselves upon fhe limited square surface of the raft, so in crowding from one side to the other the raft eventually tipped up, and, submerged its 'freight.' In the first place there were too many on the concern (we will here say nothing of the concern itself), and in the second, place, many as/they were, the persons on it were very much legs careful than they might have been in their brief passage across the ; water, and ihkvt they will be to-day or the day after when trusting to the same conveyance for their passage. At the moment of the raft up-ending, little was thought of the hurried disappearance from; it into the water:of the passengers, and loud peals of laughter broke from, persons?,on -the bank, many of whom could jiereeive nothing more serious than a severe "ducking." But if; was soon but too apparent that to■. certain • of; the ; .men in the struggling crowd the question was ? one of such moment as can only occur once. It; is indeed wonderful that no one was drowned:, s ' There were many could not swim, and the painful struggles of those were really heart-rending: Owing,', however, to the manly and courageous efforts of certain members of the Armed Constabulary, JKepreseritatives, and Troopers on duty, with the assistance of some civilians, all 1 those in imminent peril were rescued. Constables -Pey, Moore and Foreman, O'Brien and Conriell (to? the two latter great credit is due) gave much needed assistance* as also did Mr Healey, compositor, Thames Advertiser, Mr Allom, and Mr Joshua Jackson. One poor fellow was nearly,, gone/,when i brought :■ lo >? shore,! h He* 'hadl/ imbibed a tremendous quantity. He had been under water a long time, and was rescued when sinking never to rise, and he must look upon this escape as being more than fortunate. One other just been seated on terra firma when the body of the former was seen under the linking!not a particle of his person! being exposed to the air. It was indeed a dreadful moment, the t more so as it is a business of some danger to attempt rescuing a man at such a stage. However, he was fortunately touched up by the friendly hand or foot of those who were exerting themselves, so that he was kept afloat for a second or two till a point was reached where bottom could be found, when he was supported, ashore and laid upon the bank. : Mr Charles Cox was present and recommended the administration of brandy, by the aid of which and sundry *other restorative applications,, he eventually,,recovered. The rest of the passengers were nqt much the worse for their bath., It, may be hoped;' should no improvement be made in this raft, that a little more care will in future be observed by those crossing the river on it; in which case—that is, with with great care, we do not anticipate any great hazard in taking such an extremely short, trip in this carriage. ; v