FOUR LIVES LOST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 176, 20 April 1908, Page 7

FOUR LIVES LOST.

COLLISION iN vmm HARBOUR. . STEAMER RUNS INTO A LAUNCH. (BY TELEGRAPH.—rRESS ASSOCIATION.} Dunodln, April 19. A serious collision .'occurred''in tho Lower Harbour at a late hour 011. Saturday night, resulting, it is feared, in. the loss of .four .lives.. . ■ ;■ ■;,; " ). J A large number of members of the Naval Artillery wore camped at tho Heads for tho •Easter manoeuvres, and sonio of them were returning to camp about 11 p.m. When- opposite, Fulling Point the launch triad to cross the bow of tho Government steamer Lady Roberts, but failed, arid the steamer ran into her, throwing all in the launch into tho water. . ~7 Tlip following persons are missing. CORPORAL ROBERT ,SLATER, of Dimedin Naval Artillery, rc-. siding at Mornington, and son of Mr. Robert Slater, late member of. tho Arbitration Court. GUNNER MATTHEWS, of Port Chalmers Navir Artillery. • Two lads (civilians) named M'Phoe, whoso parent's 7reside : at St. ; Kilda, but who ivoro visiting 1 thexHeads at,the time. Ths following occupants of the'launch were picked: up'•'■by-the'Lady Roberts, which re-;' mained'in the vicinity of the disaster-for all 'houri^-Sergt./H;. ; S. ; ■ Montgomery, Scrgt, Moir, Gunner lleoves, and Trumpeter Peters —all. of the, Port Navals; Gunner, Birchall, of. tho Dun'etlin .Navals; Bandsman,, Thomson, 'of; tho Garrison Band; also the eldest boy iM'Phoo, George Thomson, (civilian), of Maitland Street, and a 1 Dunedin man known as Portuguese Joe, owner of the.launch. 7 , The Lady Roberts returned to I'ort Chal- ; mers to\secure the services ; of..afd6ct6r.jfor :twc that were injured in tho collision,', and 'then returned to'search for the bodies of 7 thbse ! missing, ..but up to' thq present, thay havo not been recovered.' Slater- was 24 years of age and unmarried, and both the boys M'PlieC, who' are missing, were under fourteen. Gunner Matthews was .'about 20 years of age.