THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT AT MANGAWAI. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Mangawai, April 19.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3043, 27 April 1867, Page 6

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT AT MANGAWAI. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Mangawai, April 19.

On Tuesday evening, the 16th instant, as Mr. Oraigue, ot the Mangawai Heads, was walking on the beaob, he found one of the bodies of the men drowned at the bar at Mangawai on the 10th of April, and immediately recognised it as that of John Sturch. The body was brought to the beach at Mangawai, and intelligence tent at once to John Ryan, Esq., J.P., who proceeded to hold an inquest Great sympathy is felt for the two bereaved families, and the utmost respect wajs paid to the remains of the poor fellow, a large number of the settlers following his remains to the grave. The burial took place in the burying* ground attached to the Church of England Schoolhduse at the Halcuru. The burial service was read by Mr. J. Tutin, sen., the lay reader licensed by the Bishop of New Zealand for this district. The weather being very severe, and the roads in a bad state, the jury could not arrive quite to the time specified, but soon after three o'clock, all being present, the following jury wu sworn before John Ryan, Esq., J.P. .-—Messrs. Thomas Webster (foreman), Joe Webster, J. Smallwood, jun., Samuel Mooney, W. Qrabame, W. Higgs, James Judd, Thomas Burgess, H. Wakeford, Gr. J. Boldero, John Tutin, Samuel Tutiu, , The following evidence was taken :— Robert Seymour, sworn and examined : I am master of the 'Alarm,' Left Auckland Wharf at half-past 9 p.m. on the 9th April. Had five passengers on board, two for Omaha and three for Mangawai. Three of a crew besides myself— my son William, Edward Cattlin, and John Sturch. Let go the anchor in the stream, not having wind enough to stem the tide. The breeze getting up about half-pant 11 p.m., we set sail; landed our passengers at Omaha, and then proceeded to Mangawai. W e were close off the bar at a quarter past 3p.m. ; squared away, with the wind north-east, thinking there was 11 feet of water on the bar, as it was just half -tide ; but I was surprised when I only found 5 feet. The cutter was drawing 5 feet 9 inches of water. As she struck in mid-channel, I thought it was best to carry a line to the rock or breakwater, to keep her from forging on the Port Spit. Hoisted out the boat to take the line ashore, with the end of the line made fast to the quarter of the cutter. The three that are drowned, William Seymour, John Sturch, and Edward Cattlin, tried to get to the shore with the line fast, but could not. They then let go the line from the cutter, coiled it into the boat to row to the breakwater to make fast the line on shore, and come down with the tide to the cutter. The boat then drifted towards the breakers. In attempting to get to the breakwater the boat shipped some water, and the other seas capsized her. I saw the three men afterwards trying to launch the boat towards the cutter, standing on the strand. There was not more than three feet of water when the seas were out. I saw them adrift from the boat, and thea they got the boat and turned her over, holding on to it. I saw a sea strike the boat. Saw poor Sturch go under. Did not see him after. The other two, W. Seymour and B. Cattlin, were holding on for some time, and then left the boat as though they were trying to swim to the cutter. They held on for some time, when they were engulphed in the breakers, and overpowered. There were no ropes or anything that we threw out that reached them. The boat came on shore within an hour after without any damage whatever. By the Foreman : There was deep water between them and the breakwater. No rope from Smith's could help them ; they would be gone before you would get there. Before the breakwater was there f could come in at half tide,— drawing 5 feet 9 inches. * By a Juryman : Suppose that the sandspit has been formed since my previous voyage ; did not know one to be there before. Have known the water to be one to two feet difference. By a Juryman : With the wind blowing a3 it has done lately, and the same sea running, never noticed any such change as ha 9 been lately. Cannot say exactly whether the breakwater caused the sandspit or nofc. When the pilot took the soundings before, they reported 7 feet at low water, and I took this for granted. This would give me full 11 feet ; and as there was a bad night coming, I was trying to get in. It is possible life-buoys might have saved them if we had them there. By a Juryman: There was a current running between the cutter and the breakwater. It would be against the men coming aboard. It was a fair wind. We had not to deviate from the channel. She grounded in mid-channel. The sand was almost dry at our side at low water inside. The cutter came in without any injury. The cutter was about twenty yards from the boat, a3 well as lean say. My boat was as good a one as is to be found in Auckland. 1 have seen the body now lying in the boat, and I recognise it from the dress as that of John Sturch. lam positively certain of that, from his dress. No ropes from the ferry would be of any use. I would know hiß body from any of the others by the shirt and boots, also by the hands. lam quite sure it is that of J. Starch. Robert Haswell, being sworn, deposed : I was aboard the cutter. The vessel stuck in mid-channel. I did not see the men stand upon the strand at all. I saw John Sturch, as nearly as I can say, try to swim to the cutter. I could not look at them. Have crossed the bar before at half tide. Was so much confused, could not tell what they were doing, t think it was John Sturch was trying to swim up to the cutter, and the two others appeared, one holding on to the boat, one on each side. Had a good passage up. Consider the breakwater will soon block up the harbour altogether. Nothing could be done to save them, owing to the heavy sea. A boat went out with my son, and Mr. Craigue and Campbell, to try and save the men, when I told them there were three drowned already, and they ought not to go. Hare heard the evidence of Eobert Seymour, and believe it t<> be correct. Do not think that a line tied about the body would be any use. No boat would be any use. It was about half an hour after the men were drowned when my son and the two others went out. They did not know then that the three were lost. Believe the body lying in the boat to be that of John Sturch. Alexander Craigue, sworn, said : On the afternoon of the 10th. April, saw a cutter approach Mangawai bar; she squared off, and came to the bar; appeared very unsteady, wore round, having her head towards the breakers. A few minutes after a boat left, as I thought, with the kedge and rope, and three men. Saw the boat get broadside on to the breakers capsize, one man at the bow, one at centre, and one at stern. Called to the men at the | breakwater to come to my assistance ; asked for I volunteers to go in such boat, as we had to save life. Launched the boat. Campbell, Haswell, and Craigue went down to the cutter ; sea was running very high. Mr. Baa well called out to them fromHhe vessel, "Back," as the men were drowned, that the boat could not live, and would not be any use. On considering it, we left the beach where we were, and I went off with Joseph Seymour on board the cutter. Yesterday, the 17th, as we were walking along the beach, I found one of the bodies lying on the beach between Mr. Haswell's and Bream Tail. Suppose the body to be that of John Sturch ; saw nothing of the men but once, when clinging to the stern, centre, and bow of the boat, until 1 saw the body yesterday. I recognise it to be the body of John Sturch. I did so from the fust time I saw it. 1 never examined the depth of the water. I do not know its depth now. 1 could not render any assistance by ropes or buoys. All I could do I did. The men were about 150 feet from the breakwater. James Campbell, being sworn, said : I saw the cutter on the 10th April ; supposed her to be the 'Miranda,' but found out she was the 'Alarm. 1 I next saw her coming in, and then she went aground. As I believe, saw three men in a boat pulling a rope from the cutter ; saw the boat capsize, and some of the men appeared to be on top of the boat. I said to my employer 1 would try and save their lives. He asked me if we could do so, and I said we would try. He said he would go with me. I sent for the paddles, and launched the boat. Craigue, H. Haswell, and myself went close to tbe cutter ; we could hear them speaking. Mr. Haswell told us there were three drowned already, which caused me to say we will turn, and it gave me plenty to do to get back . I have lived nearly two yearson the breakwater. I have never examined the channel. I don't know whether the water is deepened or not. I believe the vessel generally came in about top tide, and went out the same. Do not know anything as to the effects of the breakwater on the channel. It is supposed to deepen tbe channel. Joseph Seymour, sworn and examined, says : Have seen the body now lying in the boat, and 1 identify it by the clothes as the body of John Sturch ; he has on my brother's trousers, and also I know it by his boots. The body is not large enough to be that of either of the others; the hands are small and soft, and no appearance of hard work upon them, which the others would have. This closed the evidence. The jury, after mature consideration, returned tbe following verdict :— " That the said John Sturch came by his death by drowning on the bar at Maigawai, on the 10th April, 1867, accidentally. The ;

jury are of opinion that all vessels entering and leaving the port of Mangawai should carry life-buoys. The jury, also, are of opinion that the proper authorities should direct a fresh survey and new soundings to be taken of said bar and harbour of Mangawai, as in their opinion same hat become absolutely necessary."