DISTRESSING BOAT ACCIDENT. [BY TELEGRAPH-OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Invercargill, Last Night.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1515, 21 March 1882, Page 2

DISTRESSING BOAT ACCIDENT. [BY TELEGRAPH - OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Invercargill, Last Night.

Yesterday afternoon an- accident occnred ou the New River, a few miles from town, resulting in the loss of three lives. A party consisting of a young man named Henry Ackers, his sister, aged 14, his brother aged 7» and a yonng man named William Smith, went out in' a sailing boat. They intended to go for ' a sail, two or three miles distant, but had not goae far before the boat was caught by a gust of wind and turned over, going down in 20ft. of water. As soon as the boat rose Akers, who is a good swimmer, made for his sister, carried her to the boat, telling her to to cling to the mast. He then did the same with his brother. Smith bad hold of the boom, and the weight of the four caused the boat to go under. At this point the accident was noticed from the shore, and a boat put out, propelled by a boy named Colin Brown. Ackers took his brother and sister under each arm, endeavouring to keep afloat by treading water, but the wind rising made the water rough, and he overbalanced himself, his sister going down under him. they slipped their hold, and although Ackers (lived after them could not reach them. Regaining the surface he observed Smith 20 yards away, and told him to float on his back. Smith replied " I can't." By this time young Brown's boat had reached Ackers, who told him to never mind him, but go on and save Smith. He managed to get the bow of boat up to Smith, when the latter sank never to rise again. A ckers was then persuaded with great difficulty to enter boat. The bodies were subsequently recovered.