ACCIDENT AT THE HAMILTON PUNT.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 908, 18 April 1878, Page 2

ACCIDENT AT THE HAMILTON PUNT.

A serious accident andloss occurred on Tuesday afternoon to Mr Finlayson, the travelling agent for Messrs Sargood, Son & Ewen, mercers and drapers, of Auckland. Mr Finlayson was returning from Cambridge with his two-horse trap fitted up with a number of tin boxes containing a large quantity of sample goods, &o. The tmp had crossed on the puut from the East and was leaving the punt on the West side when one of the horses, getting his foot m a hole, fell, the carriage being partly on' the punt and partly on the inclined stage leading from it. Mr Fiulayson at once released the standing horse, and, having made him fast, came buck and assisted m extric.itiug the fellow one. Whilst seeming the latter animal the punt-keeder eudeavored to push the conveyance off the pant on to the landing stage, but aufortuuately the punt on reaching tlit? stage had not been properly mati^ fast, and the force employed m poshing the trap off the punt forced the punt back into the river, and the trap and its contents turning completely over fell into the stream. The trap was more or less smashed, and the boxes were with considerable difficulty got out of the river and, saturated with water, are all more or less damaged. Yesterday the croquet ground at G .Wynne's Hotel and other parts of the premises were covered with articles of men's and women's clothing, sample goods, &c, put out to dry. Great sympathy is felt for Mr Finl-iyson, who showed great presence of mind when the accident occurred m saving the animals, and who could have had no conception th.it the punt was not made fast, as it should have been, I to the shore before a vehicle was allowed to le/ive it. It will be seen that the repair of the punt approaches and of the puut itself is placed by the Council m the hands of the Mayor. It is absolutely necessary that this work be proceeded with at once. The punt itself i 3 not safe ; the boats are leaky, and only by continual pumping kept afloat For thesafety of human life it is exceedingly desirable that the punt should always m crossing the river be accompanied by the rowiag boat belonging to the Board.