DROWNING FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 29, 4 February 1896, Page 5

DROWNING FATALITY.

DEATH OF CAPTAIN HEWSON,

FELL OVERBOARD AT WAIROA.

To-da1! news was received of the death by drowning of Mr John Uewson, master of the steamer VVaitoa, ab Wairoa South. Captain Best, agent for the Waitoa, which traded between Auckland and the Wairoa South district, received a telegram this morning from Mr H. Pointer, of Wairoa South, stating that the captain of the Waitoa had been drowned accidentally in the Wairoa River, and asked that a man should be senb to take his place. Captain Best accordingly sent a man down today to bring the steamer back to Auckland, Captain Bewson's brother also going down. No particulars were to hand this morning as to the exact) cause of the fatality, but the first telegram stated that the steamer's machinery was wrong, and ib was thought that the man had mob his death while clearing the screw in the river, as he had often been accustomed to do.

Mr E. H. Browne, of Clevedon, sent us a message to-day stating that Captain Hewson fell overboard last night while at Barter's wharf, on the Wairoa River, and was drowned.' An inquest was to have been held to-day. The Waitoa had left Auckland for Wairoa at 4 p.m. yesterday.

The deceased was one of the most popular masters in the Auckland coasting trade, and was universally liked in the Wairoa? district, where he had been trading in the Waifeoa and,other vessels for about fourteen years. Captain Hewson was about 47 years ot age, and he leaves a widow and a family of five or*ix children, who reside in Ponsonby. The eldest boy is 17 j aara of age, and ia ia the employ of Messrs Jagger and Parker, and the youngesb child is only about 18 months old. The late Captain Hewson was an experienced sailor, and he first came to Auckland as second mate of the Shaw Savill ship Crusader. The coastal steamers in port displayed their flags at half-mast to-day, out of respect to his memory.