The Press.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1869. LATEST TELEGKAMS SAB ACCIDENT AT TIMAEIL [SBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDED.] Timartj, Dec. 19,5.30 p.m. A shocking accident occurred yesterday afternoon here, by which Mr Balfour, the Marine Engineer, and Mr Smallwood, the teller of the Union

IBank, were drowned. At four o'clock the whale boat left the shore with eight passengers for the s. s. Maori, namely, Messrs. Balfour, George Parker, Smallwood, Joel (of Dunedin), Menzies, Baker, and a traveller from Dunedin, together with Captain Malcolm. A nasty sea was on, and the steamer was a long distance from the shore. The whaleboat fouled at the buoy, and a signal was hoisted on the shore for her return, but the steamer sent a lifeboat in charge of the second mate and four sailors. The passengers were safely transferred; and the boat went to the Maori, going on her windward side. A heavy roller washed the boat up against the vessel, capsizing her, and throwing every person into the sea. Lines and buoys were thrown, and all were rescued | except Messrs Balfour and Smallwood. The former had four or five lines thrown to him, but all seemed to slip through his hands. He was once halfway up the side when he slipped or was washed off. Smallwood was never seen. Captain Malcolm was knocked about by the screw, and very nearly drowned. Mr Menzies, a passenger from Lyttelton, got on the boat which was bottom upwards, and was floating about till rescued by the lifeboat. Why the boat - went to the windwind of the ! steamer is not known. The accident has caused great gloom here. The bodies have not yet been washed up.