DUNEDIN.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3667, 27 September 1880, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

This day

A case of drowning occurred in the harbor on Saturday morning by which Robert Shaw, the contractor for the erection of the beacons for the Harbor Board, lost his life. Shaw and two brothers named Home had gone to work as usual, and were on board the punt from which the pile driving is done. About half past eight—it being necessary to shift the punt—Shaw went away in a small boat with the anchor to drop it at a spot about eighty yards distant. Reaching the spot, he stood up in the stern of the boat to cast off the anchor, when the boat tilted over, and he fell headlong into the water. The brothers Home remained on the punt, but as they had no boat, and both could swim, they jumped into the water, when one was seized with cramp, and could not leave the punt, but Arthur Home swam to where Shaw was and secured a hold of him. The drowning man was insensible at this time, baring been a few minutes under water. Home held him up about five minutes, but became exhausted and let him go, and he sank. Home, with some difficulty got back to the punt at half past ten before assistance came. The body was found shortly after dusk in 12 feet of water. Shaw was a married man, residing iv the valley, and has been in the colony about twelve mouths, having come here as master of a vessel called the Clifton Brothers. The Home brothers, particularly Arthur behaved with much bravery.